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REPORT 



SECRETARY OE WAR. 



to recover East Tennessee, also proved a disastrous failure to the rebels, 
who were driven off and forced back to the mountains. 

In the month of February, 1864, General Sherman's movement, with a 
large force, fi-om Yicksburg, into the interior of the State of Alabama, as 
far as Meridian, inflicted heavy loss upon the enemy by the destruction of 
railroads and supplies, the capture of prisoners, and the escape of negroes 
and refugees. This operation demonstrated the capacity of an invading 
army to penetrate the rebel States and support itself on the country, and 
was the forerunner of the great movements in Georgia. 

The arrangements for the spring campaigns of 1864 were made, on the 
part of the government, to put forth its strength. In all the bureaus of 
the War Dejjartment supplies were pi'ovided on a scale of great magni- 
tude, to meet an}' exigency that could be foreseen. The estimates were 
based upon an arnij' organization of one million of men. The States were 
called upon to strengthen the armies by volunteers; new drafts were or- 
dered and put in execution throughout all the loyal States; vast supplies 
of arms, ammunition, clothing, subsistence, medical stores, and forage 
were provided and distributed in depots, to meet the wants of the troops 
wherever they might operate; horses, mules, wagons, railroad iron, loco- 
motives and cars, bridge timber, telegraph cable and wire, and every ma- 
terial for transportation and communication of great armie3 under all 
conditions, were supplied. Congress, with unstinting hand, voted large 
appropriations for recruiting, paying and supplying the ti'oops. The olfice 
of Lieutenant General, to command all the armies, was created by law. 
Ulysses S. Grant was appointed to tliat rank by the President, and as- 
sumed command, as Lieutenant General, on the 17th day of March, 1S64, 
from which time the operations of all the armies were under his direction. 

The national forces engaged in the spring campaign of 1864 were organ- 
ized as armies or distributed in military departments, as follows : 

The army of the Potomac, commanded b}- Major General Meade, whose 
headquarters were on the north side of the Rapidan. This army was con- 
fronted by the rebel army of Northern Virginia, stationed on the south 
side of the Rapidan, under General Robert E. Lee. 

The 9th corps, itnder Major General B^rnside, was, at the opening of 
the campaign, a distinct organization, but on the 24th day of May, 18G4, 
it was incorporated into the army of the Potomac. 

The army of the James Avas commanded by Major General Butler, whose 
headquarters were at Fortress Monroe. 

The headquarters of the army of the Shenandoah, commanded by Major 
General Sigel, were at Winchester. 

Three armies were united under Major General William T. Sherman, 
viz: the army of the Cumberland, Major General Thomas commanding, 
the ai-m/ of the Tennessee, Major General 3IcPherson commanding; and 
the army of the Ohio, Major General Schofield commanding. General 
Sherman's headquarters were at Chattanooga. The effective strength of 
these three armies was nearly one hundred thousand men, and two hun- 
dred and fifty-four guns, to wit : 



Army of the Cumberland, Major General Thomas commanding: 

Infantry, 54,568 

Artillery, 2,377 

Cavalry, ' 3,828 



Total, 60,773 

Number of guns, 130 



Army of the Tennessee, Major General McPherson commanding: 

Infantry, 22,437 

Artillery, 1,104 

Cavalry, 624 

Total, 24,165 

Number of guns, 96 



Army of the Ohio, Major General Schofield commanding: 

Infantry, 11,183 

Artillery, 679 

Cavalry, 1,697 

Total, 13,559 

Number of ffuns, 28 



Grand aggregate number of troops, 98,797 

Grand aggregate number of guns, 254 



About these figures were maintained during the campaign; the number 
of men joining from furlough and hospitals compensating for the loss in 
battle and from sickness. 

In the department of Kentucky there was likewise a large active force, 
under command of Major General Burbridge, and also in East Tenessee, 
under Major General Stoneman. Adequate forces were reserved in the 
department of Washington, itnder Major General Augur, to protect the 
capital and the immense depots of military supplies at Washington and 
Alexandria, and also in the military department under Major 'General 
Lewis Wallace, to cover Baltimore and the important lines of supply and 
communication in that department. Besides the armies operating actively 
in the field, troops were assigned to garrison exposed and important stra- 
tegic points, to guard hospitals, recruiting stations, prison camps, su^jply 
depots, railroad lines, and to defend border States and the northern fron- 
tier from rebel raids. 



In the department of the south a force was operating against Charleston 
and in Florida, under General Gilmore. 

AVest of the Mississippi the forces were under the respective depart- 
mental commanders. In the department of the G ulf, embracing Louisiana, 
and Texas, Major General Banlcs had his headquarters at New Orleans. 
The department of Arkansas was in coirmand of Major General .Steele. 
Major Generl Curtis commanded the troops assigned for the department 
of Kansas and the Indian territory. The troops in the department of 
Missouri were under command of Major General Eosecrans. The defence 
of the northwestern States and Territories against Indians, expeditions 
to check incursions and reduce hostile tribes, and to protect the overland 
route to California, employed a considerable foi'co under Major General 
Pope, in the northwestern department. General Carleton in New Mexico 
and Arizona, and General Conner in the Indian territory. The States 
and Territoines on the Pacific coast required but a small force, under 
Major General McDowell. 

The headquarters of the Lieutenant General commanding all the armies 
were with the army of the Potomac in the field. 

Official reports show that on the first of May, 1861, the aggregate 
national military force of all arms, officers and men, was nine hundred 
and seventy thousand seven hundred and ten, to wit : 

Available force present for duty, 062,345 

On detached service in the different military departments, . 109,348 

In field hospitals, or unfit for duty, 41,206 

In general hospitals, or on sick leave at home, 75,978 

Absent on furlough, or as prisoners of war 66,290 

Absent without leave, 15,483 



Grand aggregate, 970,710 



The aggregate available force present for duty May 1, 1864, was dis- 
tributed in the different commands, as follows : 

Department of "Washington, 42,124 

Army of the Potomac, ' . 120,880 

Department of Virginia and North Carolina, 59,139 

Department of the south, , . 18,165 

Department of the Gulf, 61,806 

Department of Arkansas, 23,666 

Department of the Tennessee, 74,174 

Department of the Missouri, 15,770 

Department of the Northwest, 5,295 

Department of Kansas, 4,798 

Headquarters military division of the Mississippi, . . - . 476 

Department of the Cumberland, 119.948 



/ 



6 • 

Dcj^artment of the Ohio, 35,416 

]^orthern departraeut, 9,546 

Department of West Yirginia, 30,782 

Department of the east, 2,828 

Depai'tment of the Susquehanna, 2,970 

Middla Department, 5,627 

Ninth Army Corps, ■ 20,780 

Department of New Mexico, 3,454 

Department of the Pacific, 5,141 



662,345 



Active military operations west of the Mississippi, commenced in the 
month of March, 1864. The principal rebel forces bej'ond the Mississippi 
were concentrated under General Kirby Smith, at Shrevejiort, on the Eed 
river. Against this force an expedition was undertaken by Major General 
Banks, with a large army from New Orleans, to be co-operated with by 
troops from the department of Arkansas, under General Steele, and from 
the division of the Mississippi, under General A. J. Smith, and also a large 
naval force tinder Admiral Porter. General Banks with his forces reached 
Alexandria about the 20th of March. Advancing thence towards Shreve- 
port, a series of disasters commenced, that ended in the failure of the 
expedition with heavy loss of men and material. The cause of this failure 
is still a subject of discussion, not material to the present report. Although 
by this mishap the enem}^ was enabled to occupy the attention of a large 
force designed and that might have been employed in other fields, he was 
himself kept in check, and hindered from taking part in the great cam- 
paigns east of the Mississippi. 

The campaigns in Yirginia opened on the 4th day of May By simul- 
taneous movements the army of the Potomac crossed the EajMdan, and 
City Point, on the south side of the James, was seized and occupied by 
General Butler. The crossing of the Eapidan was eiiected without re- 
sistance from the enemy. The movement against City Point took him by 
surprise. The army of the Potomac was directed at Lee's army while the 
city of Eichmond was the objective point of the army of the James. 

Minute details of the subsequent campaigns are given in the accompa- 
nying reports of the Lieutenant General and other distinguished comman- 
ders, so that nothing more than a cursor}^ view of the main results is here 
required. 

The antagonist armies of Meade and Lee met in conflict near Mine Eun 
on the 5th da}^ of May. Forty-three days of desperate fighting or march- 
ing by day and night forced back the rebel army from the Eapidan to their 
intrenchments around Eichmond, and carried the army of the Potomac to 
the south side of the James river. The strength of the enemy's force 
when the campaign opened,, or the extent of his loss, is not known to this 
department. Any inequality of numbers between Lee's army and the 
army of the Potomac was fully compensated by the advantage of position. 
Eesolute purpose and desperate valor were exhibited on both side^. In 



the battles of the Wilderness, SpottS3-lvaTiia Conrt-Honsc, Jericho Pord, 
Hawe's Shop, and Cold Harbor, man}- brave soldiers and irallant officers 
perished. Amonfj; thcni Avere Brii^adier General Wadsworth, ]')i-i<;-adier 
General Hays, and Major General Sedgwick. Lieutenant General Grant 
in his rejior't observes : 

"The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, and Cold 
Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were on our side, were even more 
damaging to the enemy, and so crippled him as to make him wary ever 
after of taking the offensive. His losses in men were probably not so 
great, owing to the fact that we were, save in the Wilderness, almost in- 
variably the attacking party, and when he did attack, it was in the open 
field." 

Although expectations of destro3'ing Lee's army, and the speedy capture 
of Eichmond and Petersburg, were disappointed, and the enemy had found 
refuge behind impregnable fortifications, the carapnign was still prosecu- 
ted with determined purpose towards the same object. While the rebel 
army was sheltered in his intrenchments, the national forces were busy at 
work outside strengthening and advancing their position, breaking the 
communications of the enemy, cutting off and destroying his supplies, 
narrowing his limits, harassing him by raids, and occupying his attention 
to prevent detachments or re-enforcements being sent to operate elsewhere. 

Active operations were also going on in the valley of the Shenanhoah. 
On the first of May an expedition under Generals Crook and Averill, was 
sent out by General Sigel, which reached Wj'theville and accomplished 
the destruction of much rebel propert}'. General Sigel advanced, on the 
8th of Ma}^, with his force, from Winchester to New Market, where, met 
by the enemy under General Breckinridge, he was defeated, and fell back 
to Cedar Creek. General Hunter was then placed in command of the de- 
partment. He marched with a strong force towards Staunton, and in a 
brilliant engagement at Piedmont, defeated the enemy with severe loss. 
Advancing to Staunton, he was joined there by Crook and Averill, and 
moved against Lj-nchburg. Re-enforcements from the enemy having 
arrived before him, General Hunter retired by way of the Kanawha. 
Meanwhile, in order to repair the losses of the army of the Potomac, the 
chief part of the force designed to guard the middle department and the 
department of Washington was called forward to the front. Taking ad- 
vantage of this state of affairs, in the absence of General Hunter's com- 
mand, the enemy made a large detachment from their army at Eichmond, 
which, under General Parly, moved down the Shenandoah valley, threat- 
ening Baltimore and Washington. Their advance Avas checked at Mono- 
eacy, where a severe engagement was fought by our troops under General 
Wallace, re-enforced by a part of the sixth corps under General Eicketts. 
After this battle the enemy continued to advance until they reached the 
intrenchments around Washington. Here they were met by troops from 
the army of the Potomac, consisting of the 6th corps, under General 
Wright, a part of the 8th corps, under General Gillmore, and a part of the 
19th corps, just arrived from New Orleans, under General Emor3\ By 
these troops the enemy were driven back from Washington, and retreated 
hastily to Virginia, pursued by our forces under General Wright. 

On the 7th day of August, 1864, General Sheridan was placed in com- 
mand of the military division comprising the department of Washington, 
the department of West Virginia, the department of the Suscpebanua, 



and the middle department. In two great battles, at the crossing of the 
Opequan on the 19th of September, and at Fisher's Hill on the 22d of 
September, the rebel army under Early was routed and driven from the 
valley with immense loss of prisoners, artillery, and stores. A desperate 
effort was made by the enemy to recover their position. Early was 
strongly re-enforced, and on the morning of the 19th of October, in the 
absence of G-enerrl Shei-idan, his lines were surprised, his position turned, 
and his forces driven back in confusion. At the moment when a great 
disaster was impending, Shei'idan appeared upon the field, the battle was 
restored, and a brilliant victory achieved. The routed forces of the enemy 
were pursued to Mount Jackson, where he arrived without an organized 
regiment of his army. All his artillery and thousands of prisoners fell 
into Sheridan's hands. These successes closed military operations in the 
Shenandoah valley, and a rebel force appeared there no more during the 
war. 

Major General "William T. Sherman began the brilliant sei'ies of his 
campaigns early in May. The first objective point was Atlanta. To 
reach that city his armies must pass from the northern limit to the centre 
of the great State of Georgia, forcing their waj^ through mountain defiles 
and across great rivers, overcoming or turning formidable intrenched po- 
sitions defended by a strong, well-appointed veteran armj^, commanded by 
an alert, cautious, and skilful General. The campaign opened on the 6th 
day of May, and on the 2d day of September the national forces entered 
Atlanta. This achievement is thus described in General Sherman's Eield 
Order No. 68 : 

"On the first of May our armies were lying in garrison seemingly quiet 
from Knoxville to Huntsville, and our enemy lay behind his rocky-faced 
barrier at Dalton, proud, defiant, and exulting. He had had time since 
Christmas to recover from his discomfiture on the Mission Eidge, with his 
ranks filled and a new commander-in-chief, and second to none in the con- 
federacy in reputation for skill, sagacity, and extreme popularity. All at 
once our armies assumed life and action and appeared before Dalton. 
Threatening Eocky Face we threw oiirselves upon Eesaca, and the rebel 
army only escaped by the rapidity of its retreat, aided by the numerous 
roads with which he was familiar, and which were strange to us. Again 
he took post in AUatoona, but we gave him no rest, and, b}^ our circuit 
towards Dallas and subsequent movement to Acworth, we gained the Al- 
latoona Fass. Then followed the eventful battles about Kenesaw, and the 
escape of the enemy across the Chattahoochee river. 

"The crossing of the Chattahoochee and breaking of the Agusta road 
Avas most handsomely executed by us, and will be studied as an example 
in the art of war. At this stage of our game our enemies became dissat- 
isfied with their old and skilful commander, and selected one more bold 
and rash. New tactics were adopted. Hood fi,rst boldly and rapidly on 
the 20th of July fell on our right at Peach Tree Creek, and lost. Again, 
on the 22d, he struck our extreme left and was severely punished; and 
finally, again on the 28tb, he repeated the attempt on our right, and that 
time must have become satisfied, for since that date he has remained on 
the defensive We slowh' and gradually drew our lines about Atlanta, 
feeling for the railroad which supplied the rebel army and made Atlanta 
a place of importance. 



9 

"We must concede to 'our one 1113^ that he met these efforts patiently 
and skilfully, but at last he made the mistake we had waited for so long, 
and sent his cavalry to our rear far beyond the reach of recall. Instantly 
our cavalry was on his only remaining road, and wo followed quietl}' with 
our principal army, and Atlanta fell into our possession as the fruiL of 
well-concerted measures, backed by a brave and confident army." 

For military reasons, stated in the report of the Lioutenant-General, it 
was determined that Atlanta should be destroyed, and Sherman's armies 
push forward to Savannah or some other point on the Atlantic coast. 

Shortly before the fixU of Atlanta, General Johnston had been superse- 
ded in command of the rebel army by General Hood, who, adopting a 
different system from that pursued by his cautious predecessor, boldly 
assumed the offensive, with a view to force General Sherman from Georgia, 
by cutting off his communications, and invading Tennessee and Kentucky. 
Pursuant to this plan, Hood, hy a rapid march, gained and broke tip, at 
Big Shanty, the railroad that supplied Sherman's army, advanced to 
Dal ton, and thence moved towards Tennessee. Hood was followed from 
Atlanta by General Sherman far enough north to cover his own purpose 
and assure him against Hood's interrupting the contemplated march to 
the sea-coast. Sherman turned back suddenly to Atlanta. That city and 
all the railroads leading to it were destroyed, and on the 15th of Novem- 
ber the march commenced for Savannah. Advancing in three columns, 
and living upon the country, the capital of the State and other large towns 
were occupied without resistance. General Sherman's command, on- the 
10th of December, " closed in on the enemy's works which covered Sa- 
vannah." Fort McAllister was gallantly carried by assault on the same 
day. The city of Savannah, strongly fortified, and garrisoned by a large 
force under General Hardie, was summoned, but surrender was i-efused. 
Pi'eparations for assault were made, and in the night of the 20th of De- 
cember Hardie evacuated the city, and, with a large part of his garrison, 
escaped under cover of darkness. The United States troops entered the 
city early in the morning of the 21st of December. Immense quantities 
of arms, ammunition, oi'dinance, and military stores were captured, and 
the cotton that fell into our hands amounted in value to many millions of 
dollars. 

While General Sherman's ai'^ny was marching south from Atlanta to the 
sea-coast the rebel army under llood, strongly re-enforced, was moving 
north, threatening Tennessee. The task of encountering this formidable 
foe, and defending the border States from invasion, was intrusted to Major 
General George H. Thomas, who was ably assisted by his second in com- 
mand, Major General Schofield. In his report, General Thomas says: 

"I found myself confronted by the army which, under General J. E. 
Johnston, had so skilfully resisted the advance of the whole active army 
of the militar}^ division of the Mississippi from Dalton to Chattahoochee, 
re-enforced by a well-equipped and enthusiastic cavalry command of over 
12,000 men, led by one of the boldest and most successful cavahy com- 
manders in the rebel army. My information from all sources confirmed 
the reported strength stated of Hood's army to be from forty to forty-five 
thousand infantry, and from twelve to fifteen thousand cavalry. My 
effective force at this time consisted of the fourth corps, about 12,000, 
under Major General D. S. Stanley; the twenty-third corps, about 10,000, 



10 

under Major General Schofield; Hatc^ier's division of cavahy, about 4,000; 
Croxton's brigade, 2,500; and Capron's brigade, of about 1,200. The 
balance of my force was distributed along the railroad, and posted at 
Murfreesboro', Stevenson, Bridgeport, Huntsville, Decatur, and Chatta- 
nooga, to keep open our communications and hold the posts above named, 
if attacked, until they could be reinforced, as up to this time it was im- 
possible to determine which course Hood would take, advance on Nashville 
or turn towards Huntsville. Under these circumstances, it was manifestly 
best to act on the defensive until sufficiently re-enforced to justify taking 
the oifensive. On the 12th of November communication with General 
Sherman was severed, the last dispatch from him leaving Cartersville, 
Georgia, at 2.25 p.m. on that date. He had started on his great expedi- 
tion from Atlanta to the seaboard, leaving me to guard Tennessee, or to 
pursue the enemy if he followed the Commanding General's column. It 
was, therefore, with considerable anxiety that Ave watched the force at 
Florence, to discover what course they would pursue with regard to Gene- 
ral Sherman's movements, determining thereby whether the troops under 
my command, numbering less than half those under Hood, were to act 
on the defensive in Tennessee,- or take the offensive in Alabama." 

When the possibility of Hood following Sherman- was over. General 
Thomas took measures to act on the defensive. Re-inforcements of new 
regiments were hurried forward to him by the governors of the western 
States. All troops fit for any militar3^ duty were collected and sent for- 
ward from the hospitals; absentees on leave were called in; the employes 
in the quartermaster's department were armed and organized for duty in 
the intrenchments, and two divisions of veteran infantry, under command 
of General A. J. Smith, that had been serving on the Red river, and after- 
wards in Missouri, were pushed forward to General Thomas. By these 
means his forces were speedily swelled, when concentrated, to an army 
nearly as large as that of the enemy. The public property and garrisons 
were drawn in from exposed positions and points not required to be held, 
the fortifications of Nashville were strengthened, and every preparation 
was made for a struggle of no ordinary magnitude. Hood advanced to 
Columbia, where his attempt to cross Duck creek was checked for a while 
by General Schofield, who repulsed the enemy many times with heavy 
loss. Schofield's main force in front of Columbia was Avithdrawn on the 
niglU of the 29th of November, and a posUion taken at Franklin on the 
morning of the 30th. Here took place one of the most fierce and bloody 
battles of the Avar. " The enemy," says General Thomas, in his report, 
"followed closely after General Schofield's rear guard in the retreat to 
Franklin, and upon coming up with the main force, formed rapidly and 
advanced to assault our Avorks, repeating attack after attack during the 
entire afternoon, and as late as 10 p. m. his efforts to break our lines Avere 
continued. General Schofield's position Avas excellentl}'' chosen, Avith both 
flanks resting on the riA^er, and his men firmly held their ground against 
an OA^erwhelming enemy, who was repulsed in every assault along the 
whole line. Our loss, as given by General Schofield in his report, trans- 
mitted hercAvith, (and to Avhich I respectfully refer,) is 189 killed, 1,033 
wounded, and 1,104 missing, making an aggregate of 2,326. We captured 
and sent to Nashville 702 prisoners, including one general officer and 33 
stands of colors. Major General D. S. Stanley", commanding 4th corps, 
was severely Avounded at Franklin Avhile engaged in rallying a portion of 
bis command Avhich had been temporarily overpoAvered by an over- 



11 

whelming attack of tho enemy. At the time of the battle the enemy's 
loss was known to be severe, and was estimated at 5,000. The exact fig- 
ures were only obtained, however, on the reoccu])ation of Franklin by our 
forces, after the battles of December 15 and IG, at Brentwood Hills, near 
Nashville, and are given as follows: Buried u])on the fleld, 1750; disabled 
and placed in hosjiital at Franklin, 3,800; which, with the 702 prisoners 
already reported, makes an aggregate loss of G,252, among whom were 
six general officers killed, six wounded, and one captured. The important 
results of this signal victor}' cannot be too highlj- appreciated; for it not 
only seriously checked the enemy's advance, and gave General Schofield 
time to remove his troops and all his property to Nashville, but it also 
caused deep depression among the men of Hood's army, making them 
doubly cautious in their subsequent movements." 

OTi the night after the battle of Franklin, General Schofield, by the di- 
rection of General Thomas, fell back to IS^ashville, in front of Avhich city, 
on tlie heights, a line of battle was formed by noon of the 1st of December. 
Hood's army appeared before Nashville on the 2d of December. The in- 
tense severity of the weather prevented operations for several days. 
Both armies were ice-bound for a week previous to the 14th of December, 
when the weather moderated, and General Thomas, having completed his 
preparations, issued orders for battle the ensuing day. At an early hour 
on the morning of the 15th of December, General Thomas moved against 
Hood's army. The battle was furiously contested until nightfall. "The 
total result was the capture of 16 pieces of artillery, and 1200 prisoners, 
besides several hundred stands of small arms and about 40 wagons. The 
enemy had been forced back at all points, with heavy loss, and our casu- 
alities were unusually light. The behavior of the troops was unsurpassed 
for steadiness and alacrity in every movement, and the original plan of 
battle, Avith but few alterations, was strictl}' adhered to. The whole com- 
mand bivouacked in line of battle during the night on the ground occu])ied 
at dark, while preparations were made to renew the battle at an early 
hour on the morrow." 

The battle was renewed on the 16th, at six o'clock in the morning. At 
three o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy's strong position on Overton's 
Hill was assaulted by the 4th corps. "Immediately following the effect 
of the 4th corps, Generals Smith's and Schotield's commands moved against 
the enemy's works in their respective fronts, carrying all before them, 
irreparably breaking his lines in a dozen places, and capturing all his ar- 
tillery and thousands of prisoners, among the latter four general officers. 
Our loss was remarkably small, scarcely nientionable. All of the enemy 
that did escape were pursued over the tops of Brentwood or Harpcth Hills. 
General Winslow's cavalry dismounted, attacked the enemy simulta- 
neously with Schofield and Smith, striking him in reverse, and, gaining 
firm possession of Granny White Pike, cut off his retreat by that route. 
Wood's and Steedman's troops, hearing the shouts of victory coming from 
the right, rushed impetuousl}' forward, renewing ^he assault on Overton's 
Hill, and although meeting a very heavj^^ fire, the onset was irrestible, 
artillery and innumerable prisoners falling into our hands. The enemy, 
hopelessly broken, fled in confusion through the Brentwood Pass, the 4th 
corps in a close pursuit, which was continued for several miles, when dark- 
ness closed the scene, and the troops rested from their labors. During the 
two days' operations there were 4,462 prisoners captured, including 287 



12 

officers of all grades from that of Major General, 53 pieces of artillery, and 
thousands of small arms. The enemy abandoned on the field all of his 
dead and wounded/^ 

At the battle of Nashville, Hood's army, which at one time was con- 
sidered the best drilled and most formidable rebel force set on foot during 
the war, disappeared as an army organization. Commanded successively 
by Bragg, Johnston, and Hood, many bloody fields proved the courage of 
the soldiers and the skill of its commanders. The shattered fragments of 
this army were pursued from Nashville to the Tennessee river by the 
main forces of General Thomas, and were followed and harassed for two 
hundred miles by detached commands. In his report General Thomas 
remarks : " To Colonel Palmer and his command is accorded the credit of 
giving Hood 's army the last blow of the campaign, at a distance of over 
two hundred miles from where we first struck the enemy on the 15th of 
December, near Nashville." What troops escaped from the pursuit were 
afterwards united with other fragments of rebel forces under General 
Johnston, and finally laid down their arms to General Sherman at Ealeigh. 

While the events that have been mentioned were transpiring in the 
main armies, other military operations of less magnitude, but contribu- 
ting to the general result by harassing and weakening the enemy, were 
in progress. A large rebel force, under John Morgan, invaded Kentuck}', 
and was defeated by General Burbridge in a severe engagement at Gyn- 
thiana on the 12th day of June. John Morgan was surprised and killed, 
and his staff captured by General Gillem on the 4th day of September, 
1864. In the month of November, a rebel expedition, under Breckinridge, 
Duke, and Vaughn, was repulsed by General Amnion, and driven from 
East Tennessee. An expedition, under General Stoneman and General 
Burbridge, penetrated to Saltville, in southwestin-n Virginia, destr03'ed 
the works at that place, broke up the railroads, and inflicted great de- 
struction upon tlie enemy's supplies and communications. 

After the withdrawal of our troops from the Eed river, a large rebel 
force advanced under Sterling Price into Kansas, and penetrated thence 
into the department of the Missouri. But they were at length driven 
back with heavy loss. 

Other military operations, of greater or less magnitude, occurred during 
the yeai' — some attended with- disaster, some with brilliant success. Of 
the foi'mer class were Kilpatrick's raid against Eichmond, the capture of 
Plymouth and its garrison, at the commencement of the year, by the 
rebels under Hoke; the defeat of the expedition from Memphis, under 
General Sturgis; the capture of Fort Pillow by Chalmers and Forrest; 
and Stoneman's expedition to Andersonville. On the other hand, the 
raids of Grierson from Memphis, in December, of Stoneman and Burbridge 
into Virginia, of Wilson into Alabama, inflicted sore distress upon the 
enemy, and brought the rebels to a solemn sense of the sufferings caused 
to themselves by the war they had undertaken against their government. 

At the commencement of the year 1865, all hearts were more anxious 
than ever to bring the war to a speedy close. Every preparation to that 
end was made bj^ the department, and by the military commanders in 
the field. Adequate appropriations were voted and new popular loans 
authorized by Congress. Further measures for recrutiting the army, 



13 

prompted by experience, were enacted. A new draft for half a million 
of men was put into prompt execution. The State executives renewed 
their labors in calling for volunteers. The people resjDonded to the de- 
mands of the occasion, and rapid recruitment began in all the States, and 
was at its height when Jvichmontl fell. Troops were at that time being 
raised, organized, armed, and ecpiipped as fast as they could be con- 
veniently transported to the tield. To the coming campaigns through the 
Carolinas and in Virginia, all eyes looked for a speed}^ and decisive result 
that should end the war. The military position is thus stated by the 
Lieiitcnant General: 

" In March, 1865, General Canb}^ was moving an adequate force against 
Mobile and the army defending it, under General Dick Ta^dor; Thomas 
was pushing out two large and well appointed cavalry expeditions — one 
from Middle Tennessee, under Brevet Major General Wilson, against the 
enemy's vital points in Alabama; the other from East Tenness^, und^i* 
Major General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg — and assembling the re- 
mainder of his available forces, preparatory to offensive operations from 
East Tennessee; General Sheridan's cavalry was at White House; the 
armies of the Potomac and James were confronting the enemy under Lee 
in his defences of I'ichmond and Petersburg; General Sherman with his 
armies, re-enforced by that of General Schofield, was at Goldsboro'; 
General Pope was making preparations for a spring campaign against the 
enemy under Kirby Smith and Price, west of the Mississippi; and General 
Hancock was concentrating a force in the vicinity of Winchester, Va., 
to guai'd against invasion, or to operate offensively, as might prove 
necessary." 

Official reports show that on the first of March, 1865, the aggregate 
national military force of all arms, officers and men, was nine hundred 
and sixty five thousand five hundred and ninety-one, to Avit: 

Available force j)resent for duty, 602,598 

On detached service in the different military departments, . 132,538 

In field hospitals or unfit for duty, 35,628 

In general hosj)itals or on sick leave at home, 143,419 

Absent on furlough or as prisoners of war, ....... 31,695 

Absent without leave, 19,683 

Grand aggregate, 965,561 



This force was augmented on the first of May, 1865, by enlistments to 
the number of one million five hundred and sixteen of all arms, officers 
and men, (1,000,516.) 

The aggregate available force present for dut}^ on the first of March, 
was distributed in the different commands, as follows: 

Army of the Potomac 103,273 

Headquarters military division of the Mississippi, 17 

Department of the Cumberland, 62,626 



14 



Department of the Tennessee, 

Left wing army of Georgia, 

Cavalry corps military divisions of the Mississippi, . . 
Headquarters military division of West Mississippi, 
Reserve Brigades military divisionof West Mississippi, . 

Department of the G-ulf, 

Department of Arkansas, . . . 

Department of the Mississippi, 

Sixteenth army corps, 

Headquarters military division of the Missouri, . . . 
Department of the Missouri, • 

Department of the Nortbwest, 

Headqimrters middle military division 

Cavalry forces middle military division, 

Nineteenth army corps, 

Middle department, 

Department of Washington, 

Department of West Vii-ginia, 

Department of Pennsylvania, 

Department of the east, 

Department of Yirginia, 

Department of North Carolina, 

Department of the south, 

Department of Kentucky,* 

Northern deparment, 

Department of the Pacific, 

Department of New Mexico, 

Grand total, 



45,649 

31,644 

27,410 

24 

13,748 

35,625 

24,509 

24,151 

14,395 

12 

18,557 

4,731 

841 

12,980 

6,612 

2,089 

20,056 

15,517 

820 

7,462 

45,986 

34,945 

11,510 

10,655 

11,229 

7,024 

2,501 

602,598 



The active operations of 1865 began with the reduction of Port Fisher, 
by a combined expedition of land and naval forces. The port of Wil- 
mington, North Carolina, during the Avhole war, had been a principal 
point of foreign trade with the rebels. The advantage of its position de- 
fied the most rigorous blockade, and, after the fall of Savannah, it was 
the only gate through which foreign supplies could pass to the rebels. 
The strong works and garrison of Fort Fisher, at the mouth of Cape 
Fear river, were the main defence of Wilmington. On the 13th of De- 
cember a fci"ce of about 6,500 men, under Major General Butler, started 
from Fortress Monroe to operate in conjunction Avith a naval force under 
Admiral Porter, against Fort Fisher. General Butler effected a landing 
on the 25th of December, but re-embarked on the 27th, and returned with 
his troops to Fortress Monroe. The Lieutenant General ordered the en- 
terprise to be renewed by General Terry, who, on the 2d of Januar}^, was 
placed in command of the same troops, with a re-inforcement that made 
the whole number about eight thousand. On the morning of the 13th of 



January, tho troops were disembarked, under cover of a lieavy effective 
fire from the fleet. An assault was ma<lc in the afternoon of the 15th of 
January, and after desperate hand-to-hand fighting for several hours, the 
"works were carried, the enemy driven out, and about midnight the whole 
garrison, with its commander. General Whiting, surrendered. The fall of 
Fort Fislier carried with it the other defences of Cape Fear river. Fort 
Caswell and the works on Smith's Island fell into our hands on the IGth 
and 17th, Fort Anderson on the 19th, and General Schofield advancing, 
the enemy were driven from Wilmington on the 21st of February. 

Early in the month of Januar}^ Major General Sherman, having refitted 
his army, entered upon his campaign from Savannah, thx'ough tlie States 
of South Carolina and North Carolina, the incidents of which are de- 
tailed in his accompanj-ing report. Its result is thus stated in his special 
Field Order No. 70 : 

""Waiting at Savannah only long enough to fill our wagons, we again 
began a march which, for peril, labor and results, will compare with any 
ever made by an organized army. The floods of the Savannah, the 
swamps of the Combahee and Edisto, the 'high hills' and rocks of the 
Santeo, the flat quagmires of the Pedee and Cape Fear rivers, were all 
passed in mid-winter, with it* floods and rains, in the face of an accumu- 
lating enemy; and after the battles of Averysboro' and Bentonville, we 
once more came out of the wilderness to meet our friends at Goldsborough. 
Even then we paused only long enough to get new clothing, to reload our 
wagons, and again pushed on to Kaleigli and beyond, until we met our 
enemy suing for peatje instead of war, and off'ering to submit to the in- 
jured laws of his and our country." 

The operations in General Canby's military division also exercised an 
important influence at this juncture. After the disaster upon the Red 
river, a change of the military organization west of the Mississippi was 
made to meet the emergency. The departments of Arkansas and the 
Gulf, including Louisiana and Texas, were united in one military divi- 
sion — West Mississippi, ixnder command of Major General Canby. His 
efforts were directed to the organization and concentration of the forces 
and material within his division, and in measures to prevent the rebel 
troops west of the Mississippi from re-inforcing the armies operating east 
of that river. In the month of July Fort Gaines, Fort Powell and Fort 
Morgan, constituting important defences of Mobile bay, were reduced by 
a combined movement of laud forces, under General Gordon Granger, de- 
tached by General Canb}^, and co-operating with a naval force under 
Admiral Farragut. Early in the spring of 1865 a large force, under Gene- 
rals A. J. Smith, Gordon Granger and F. Steele, was directed against the 
city of Mobile. The enemy were driven out of Spanish Fort b}^ bom- 
bardment, Fort Blakely was taken by assault, and the city of Mobile was 
evacuated by the enemy on the 12th of April. The brilliance of these 
achievements has been ovei'shadowed by the grander scale of operations 
in other quarters, but their skill and success are worthy of higii admira- 
tion. After the faW of Savannah, Charleston and Wilmington, the enemy 
had placed his last hopes on retaining a foothold in the cotton States at 
Mobile. It was strongly fortified and gaiu'isoned, and orders Avere issued 
to hold it at every hazard. 

In the latter part of February General Sheridan, under direction of the 



Lieutenant General, moved from TVincliester to Staunton, Tvhicli place be 
captured on the 2d of March, taking prisoners, artillery and military 
stores. He thence moved on Charlottesville, and destroyed the Eichmond 
and Ljmchburg railroad, and the bridges across the Eivanna river. Di- 
viding his forces, one column moved to New Market and destroyed the 
James river canal; the other column pushed towards Lynchburg, dCvStroy- 
ing the railroad to Amherst Court House. These columns, reuniting, 
moved to the White House, on the Pamunkey, effected great destruction 
of the canal on their route, and thence put themselves in communication 
with the forces around Eichmond. 

The month of March, 1865, opened the great campaign against Eich- 
mond and the army that had so long defended the rebel capital. 

Listructions were given by the Lieutenant General on the 24th of March 
for a general movement of the national forces around Eichmond. It com- 
menced on the morning of the 29th of March. Ten days' marching and 
fighting finished the campaign. Eichmond, Petersburg, the army of Vir- 
ginia and its commander were captured. Jefferson Davis and his so- 
called confederate government were fugitives or prisoners of war. Davis 
fled from Eichmond in the afternoon of Sunday, the 2d day of April. 
The national forces occupied Petersburg and. entered Eichmond Monday 
morning. Jjee's arm}^ was pursued until it reached Appomattox Court 
House, where on Sunday, the 9th day of April, it laid down its arms on 
the terms prescribed by General Grant. 

From this period the history of the war is but an enumeration of suc- 
cessive surrenders by rebel commanders. On the 26th day of April Gene- 
ral Johnston surrendered his command to Major General Sherman, at 
Ealeigh, North Carolina. General Howell Cobb, with twelve hundred 
militia and five Generals, surrendered to General Wilson, at Macon, 
Georgia, on the 20th of April. General Dick Tajdor, on the 14th of May, 
surrendered all the remaining rebel forces east of the Mississippi to Gene- 
ral Canby. On the 11th of May Jefferson Davis, disguised and in flight, 
was captured at Irwinsville, Georgia. On the 26th of May General Kirby 
Smith surrendered his entire command, west of the Mississippi, to Major 
General Canby. With this surrender the organized rebel force disappeared 
from the territory of the United States. 

The flag of the United States was lowered at Fort Sumter on the 14th 
of April, 1861, by Major Anderson, who, long besieged by overwhelming 
rebel forces, was compelled, with his small garrison, to evacuate the works. 
On the anniversary of that day, four years later, the rebel forces having 
been driven from Charleston, the national banner was planted again upon 
Fort Sumter, under the orders of the President, by the hands of General 
Anderson, with appropriate military and naval ceremonies, and a com- 
memorative address delivered by the Piev. Henry Ward Beecher. 

Their victorious campaigns ended, the armies of the Tennessee and the 
Cumberland and the armj'^of the Potomac marched through Richmond to 
the federal capital, whei*e they were reviewed by the President and the 
distinguished commanders under whom they had so long and so gallantly 
served in the field. After this national ceremony they and their fellow- 
soldiers in other commands were paid, and, as rapidly as the condition of 
affairs would admit, were released from the military service of the country; 
and, returning to their homes in the several States, they were welcomed 
with the thanks and rejoicings of a grateful people. 



17 

One othci' event may pi-opcrly be noticed in this report, as a part of the 
military history of the rebellion. While our armies, by their gallantry 
and courage, and the skill of their commanders, were overcoming all 
resistance in the field to the national authority, a SAvift and sudden bloAV 
was aimed at the national existence and at the life of the commander-in- 
chief of the army and navy, which, for atrocity in its circumstances, the 
cruel art that designed it, and the peril to which it exposed the govern- 
ment, is unsui'passed in the history of nations. Shortl}^ before the Rich- 
mond campaign opened President Lincoln went to the headquarters of 
Lieutenant General Gi'ant at City Point, where he remained \intil the 
capture of Petersbui-g and Richmond. After their occupation by our 
forces he visited those cities, and returned to Washington on the evening 
of Sunday, the 9th day of April. The dispatch of the Lieutenant General, 
announcing General Lee's surrender, was communicated to him about 
eleven o'clock Sunday night. From that time until he was assassinated 
bis attention was earnestly directed to the restoi'ation of peace and the 
reorganization of civil government in the insurgent States. In a public 
address to an assemblage that met at the Executive Mansion on the 
evening of AYednesday, the 12th of April, to congratulate him on the suc- 
cess of our arms, his views and some of his measures were explained. On 
the night of the following Friday the President was shot by an assassin, 
and expired at about seven o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 15th 
of April. This assassination appeared to be part of a deliberate, compre- 
hensive conspiracy to assassinate the President, Vice President, Secretary 
of State, Lieutenant-General, and other officers of the government, with 
a view to its disorganization. About the same hour of the President's 
murder, an effort was made to assassinate the Secretary of State, who 
was then confined to his bed by serious injuries, accidently received a few 
days before. He and other members of his family were dangerously 
wounded. Some of the parties engaged in this conspiracy were tried, 
convicted and executed; others are still under sentence of imprisonment 
for life. The details are given in the report of the Judge Advocate 
General. The designs upon the Yice President and the Lieutenant 
General failed; and upon the death of the President, the Vice President 
was sworn into office, and assumed the duties of President of the United 
States. These events were promptly communicated to the armies by 
general orders, and from thenceforth until the present time the govern- 
ment has been administered by Andrew Johnson as Chief Executive and 
Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy. 

The destruction of the rebel military power opened the way to re- 
establish civil government in the insurgent States. From that period 
the functions of the military department became simply co-operative with 
other branches of the federal government. 

Nashville, Tennessee, was the first capital of an insurgent State in which 
the federal authority was re-established. The rebel army was driven out 
on the 2od day of February, 1862, and that city occupied by the Union 
forces. On the 3d day of March, 1862, Andrew Johnson, then senator in 
Congres from the State of Tennessee — the only senator from an insurgent 
State who retained his seat in Congress — was appointed militarj^ governor 
of the State of Tennessee. He accepted the appointment, and promptly 
entered upon his duties, and continued to exercise them until his resigna- 
tion on th€ 3d day of March, 1865. In all the vicissitudes of the war his 
administration Avas directed to the establishment and maintenance of the 



18 

• 

Constitution and laws of the United States within and over the State 
of Tennessee. "Without entering upon details it is sufficient to remark 
that extension of civil authority kept pace with the reduction of the rebel 
power. The federal courts were opened, and justice administered. Under 
his direction, against many discouragements and much oj^position, great 
advance was made towards the full re-establishment of civil authority, 
and the restoration of the State to its practical relations to the fedej'al 
government. He issued a proclamation on the 6th of January, 1864, for 
the election of township and county officers, justices of the peace, con- 
stables, trustees, sheriffs, clerks, registers, and tax collectors. In the 
month of May a convention was held at Knoxville, East Tennessee, to 
devise measures for restoring civil government in the State. In the month 
of August another Convention was called to meet at Nashville on the 5th 
of September, to reorganize the State. A full convention being prevented 
by the condition of military affairs, this body recommended that another 
convention, " elected by the loyal people," should assemble at an early 
day to revise the State constitution, lihe governor issued a proclamation 
on the 7th of September, announcing that he should proceed to appoint 
officers and establish tribimals "in all the counties and districts of the 
State whenever the people gave evidence of loyalt}' and a desire for civil 
government, and a willingness to sustain the officers and tribunals." A 
convention was called to meet on the 9th of January, 1865, at Nashville, 
to revise the State constitution. This convention met, amendments to the 
State constitution were adopted, slavery was abolished, and pi-ovision 
made for submitting the amendments to the people, and for holding 
elections. The amendments Avere ratified by popular vote. A governor, 
legislature, and members of Congress were subsequently (on the 4th of 
March) elected by the people. The legislature assembled on the first 
Monday of April; the abolition of slavery was enacted, senators to Con- 
gress elected, and a State government was fully organized, and has since 
continued in action. This system of reorganization having been found 
practicable by actual experience, it was adopted by the President, with 
such modifications as he deemed proper, for all the insurgent States, and 
is now in course of execution. 

The disposition exhibited after the surrender of their armies in all the 
insurgent States to submit to the national authority dispensed with the 
necessity of keeping large armies on foot, and indicated the degree to 
which the war power might be reduced. So much onl}^ of the national 
military force has been kept in each State as is needed to keep the peace, 
protect the public property, and enforce the laws. 

It was apparent that by the surrender of General Lee and his army, 
the military power, on which alone the rebellion rested, was irretrievably 
broken, no doubt being entertained that Lee's surrender would be followed 
by that of Johnston, and perhaps by all other commanders of the in- 
surgent forces. The attention of the department was immediately di- 
rected to the following objects, and on the 13th of April, four days after 
Lee's surrender, public notice was given that orders would be speedily 
issued to carry them into effect, viz : 

Pirst. To stop all drafting and recruiting in the loyal States. 

Second. To curtail purchases of arms, ammunition, quartermaster and 
commissary supplies, and reduce the expenses of the military establish- 
ment in the several branches. 



19 

Third. To reduce the number of general and staff officers to the actual 
necessities of the service. 

Fourth. To remove all militarj'- restrictions upon trade and commerce, 
so far as might be consistent with the public safety. 

These measures have been carried into effect from time to time, as the 
exigencies of the service would admit. It will be seen from the report of 
the Adjutant General that troops to the number of 800,963 have already 
been mustered, paid off, and disbanded. Further reduction is contem- 
plated. Upon the tlischarge of troops the services of a gi-eat number of 
staff, lield^ and general officers were no longer required. Of these some 
have resigned, and others were honorably mustered out. No doubt in 
many instances it has been painful for gallant and accomplished officers 
to leave that service to which they have been accustomed, and where 
they have won honorable distinction. But it is to the credit of the 
volunteer service that they have recognized the obligation of the govern- 
ment to reduce the military establishment with the occasion that called 
it into existence, and that their own wishes or interest have not been im- 
portunately ui'ged against the necessities of the service. 

The disposition of the veteran reserve corps presented some con- 
siderations of peculiar nature. It was the inclination of the department 
to retain it in service until the meeting of Congress. But inquiry showed 
that a very small per cent, of enlisted men were content to remain in ser- 
vice. All who desired have therefore been discharged, and supernu- 
merary officers mustered out. 

Eecruiting to fill the regular regiments has continued. Several thou- 
sand applications for commissions in the regular service are on file. These 
commissions, hitherto, have been conferred only by promotion from the 
ranks. But to secure the requisite number of competent officers, a boai-d 
has been ai^pointed to examine applicants and determine their relative 
merit. From the list selected by the board, and in the order of merit, ap- 
, pointments are to be made. Two years' actual service in the war is in- 
dispensable for aj^pointment. 

The establishment of a well-organized militia system is one of the most 
important subjects that will demand the attention of Congress. This 
subject has already received careful consideration, and it is believed that, 
after conference with the appropriate committees, a practical system may 
be agreed upon. 

Measures for the establishment of homes, and some provision for the 
aid and relief of wounded and disabled soldiers, is also a subject that will 
commend itself strongly to ever}' patriotic heart. Whether this duty, 
which the country owes to patriots who have suffered in the national de- 
fence, can best be performed by the national government or administered 
by the respective State authorities, and whether relief can best be afforded 
by an increase of pension, or by establishing homes, are points on which 
opinions differ, and which can only be settled by the wisdom of Congress. 

The Board of Ylsitors to the Military Academy at West Point, in June 
last, made an elaborate report, which is hei'owith submitted. They re- 
commend a reorganization, and a number of measures which, in their 
opinion, will enhance the benefits of that national institution. To these 
the attention of Congress is respectfully invited, with the recommendation 



20 . 

that tlie number of cadets be increased, aa recommended, and that the 
superintendence of the institution be no longer confined to the engineer 
of the bureau. It is believed that the Military Academy is at present well 
conducted, and that their responsible duties are etficientl}^ performed by 
the officers, professors and instructors charged with the institution. 

The war appropriations at the last session of Congress, as has been 
stated, amounted to the sum of ^516,240,131 70. ^The estimates for the 
next[fiscal year, commencing June 30, 1866, are $33,814,461 83. 

These estimates are based upon a standing force of fifty thousand men, 
so organized as to admit of an increase, without additional organizations, 
to 82,600 troops of all arms. 

This estimate has been made after conference and careful consideration, 
and is believed to be adequate for any national exigency, if the country 
should be blessed with peace. The reduction of the national military 
force, in its rapidity and numbers, is without example, and if there be 
any alarm in the public mind because this reduction is made while grave 
questions at home and abroad are unsettled, a brief consideration of the 
subject will show that there is no cause for apprehension. 

The force to be retained is small compared with that whicb was organ- 
ized to subdue the rebellion. But the only reasons demanding greater 
force are — 1st, renewal of the insurrection; 2d, a foreign war. For either 
or both emergencies the national resources remain ample. The chief 
demands for war, as shown by our experience, are, 1st, troops; 2dj arms 
and ammunition ; 3d, clothing; 4th, transportation ; and 5th, subsistence 
supplies. 

The troops disbanded were chiefly volunteers, who went to the field to 
uphold the system of free government established by their fathers, and 
which they mean to bequeath to their children. Their toils and sutfer- 
ino-s, their marches, battles and victories, have not diminished the value 
of'l^hat government to them; so that any new rebellion would encounter 
equal or greater force for its reduction ; and none can ever spring up 
with such'advantages at the start, or be conducted with superior means, 
ability, or prospect of success. A foreign war would intensify the national 
feelino-, and thousands, once misled, would rejoice to atone their error by 
rallying to the national flag. The question of time in which armies could 
be raised to quell insurrection or repel invasion is, therefore, the only 
question relating to troops. Our experience in this point is significant. 
"VYhen Lee's army surrendered, thousands of recruits were pouring in, and 
men were discharged from recruiting stations and rendezvous in every 
State. On severat occasions, when troops were promptly needed to avert 
impending disaster, vigorous exertion brought them into the field from 
remote States, with incredible speed. Official reports show that after the 
disasters on the Peninsula, in 1862, over eighty thousand troops were 
enlisted, organized, armed, equipped and sent into the field in less than _ a 
month. Sixty thousand troops have repeatedly gone to the field within 
four weeks. And ninety thousand infantiy were sent to the armies, 
from the five States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, within 
twenty days. 

When the rebellion commenced, the nation was a stranger to war. 
Officers had little experience, privates had none. But the present gene- 



21 

ration of men in this country are now veteran soldiert?. For the battle, 
the march, or the siege, they are ah-eady trained. They ai"e as much at 
home in the tented field as in the farm-house, the manufactory, or the 
shop. No time is required to train them; and the speed of the railroad 
and telegrai)h determines the time required to raise an army in the 
United States. 

Second. As to arms and ammunition. The disbanded armies were 
allowed to take home their arms at a nominal price. Rust is not likely 
to gather on the musket or sabre borne through the campaigns of 1864 
and 1855. The government retains in its arsenals more than a million of 
the best quality of arms and equipments. The artillery on hand tasks 
the department for its Bieans of storage, the manufacture of ammuni- 
tion requires materials for which we have in some degree relied upon 
other countries, because they could be had cheaper. For this reason, 
and to guard against any mischance, three j'cars' stock of material for 
ammunition has alwaj'S been kept in store, and the supply on hand is 
ample for any war that can be waged against us by any nation. 

Third. Clothing, transportation, and subsistence. After selling or dis- 
tributing among freedmen and refugees all damaged or irregular clothing, 
the stock of clothing and material in the quartermaster's depots is sulS- 
cient for any armies that may be called into service. The Avater trans- 
ports and rolling stock, mules, wagons and horses held by the government 
Avere adequate to the movement and supply of larger forces, in less time, 
than had heretofore been known in war. The government has disposed 
or is disposing of this transportation, but it remains in this country, and 
can answer any exigency. 

Armj^ subsistence is derived from the country in which military opera- 
tions are carried on, or supplied from other markets. During the war 
this most vital branch of the service never failed. It answers to the 
demand, and is ever ready to meet the national call. 

It is plain, therefore, that the abundance of our means for war enables 
the government of the United States to reduce the standing force to a 
lower degree than any other nation. Unless war be actually raging, the 
military force can be brought within very narrow limits. However sud- 
den the exigency calling for an exhibition of militar}^ power, it can be 
promptly mot. With our education, habits, and experience, the nation, 
while in the midst of peace, is prepared for war. 

The present militaiy organization comprehends nineteen departments, 
embraced in five military divisions, as follows : 

1. The department of the east. Major GeneralJoseph Hooker to com- 
mand, to embrace the New England States, iSew York, and New Jersey. 
Headquarters at New York city. 

2. The middle department, Major General W. S. Hancock to command, 
to embrace the States of West Virginia, iMaryland, (excepting the counties 
of Montgomery, that part of Anne Arundel lying south of Annapolis and 
Elk Ridge railroad, and excluding the city of Annapolis, Prince George's, 
Calvert, Charles and St. Marj-'s,) the county of Loudon, and the Shenan- 
doah valley as far south as and including Rockingham county, in Vir- 
ginia, the States of Delaware and Pennsylvania. Headquartei's at Balti- 
more. 



22 

• 

3. The department of WashiDgton, Major General C. C. Augur to com- 
mand, to embrace the District of Columbia, the counties of Montgomery, 
that part of Anne Arundel lying south of the Annapolis and Elk 
Ridge railroud, and including the city of Annapolis, Prince George's, 
Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's, in Maiyland, and Alexandria and Fair- 
fax counties, in Yirginia. Headquarters at Washington. 

4. The department of the Ohio, Major General E. O. C. Ord to command, 
to embrace the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. 
Headquarters at Detroit. 

5. The department of the Tennessee, Major General George Stoneman 
to command, to embrace the State of Tennessee. Headquarters at Knox- 

ville. 

6. The department of Kentucky, Major General John M. Palmer to 
command, to embrace the State of Kentucky, and Jeffersonville and I^ew 
Albany, in Indiana. Headquarters at Louisville. 

7. The department of Missouri, Major General John Pope to command, 
to embrace the States of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, and the 
Territories of Colorado, Utah, Nebraska, Dakota, i!^ew3l£^-i£C> and Mon- 
tana. Headquarters at St. Louis. 

8. The department of Yirginia, ^lajor General x\lfred H. Terry to com- 
mand, to embrace the State of Yirginia, excepting Alexandria, Fairfax 
and Loudon counties, and the Shenandoah valley as far south as and 
including Eockingham county. Headquarters at Pichmond. 

9. The department of North Carolina, Major General J. M. Schofield to 
command, to embrace the State of North Carolina. Headquarters at 
Ealeigh. 

10. The department of South Carolina, Major General Daniel Sickles to 
command, to embrace the State of South Carolina. Headquarters at 
Charleston. 

11. The department of Georgia, Major General James B. Steedman to 
command, to embrace the State of Georgia. Headquarters at Agusta. 

12 The department of Florida, Major General John G. Foster to com- 
mand, to embrace the state of Florida. Headquarters at Tallahasse. 

13. The department of Mississippi, Major General Thomas J. Wood to 
command, to embrace the State of Mississippi. Headquarters at Yicks- 
burg. 

14. The department of Alabama, Major General C. R. Wood to com- 
mand, to embrace the State of Alabama. Headquarters at Mobile. 

15. The department of Louisiana, Major General E. R. S. Canby to com- 
mand, to embrace the State of Louisiana. Headquarters at New Orleans. 

16. The department of Texas, Major General H. G. Wright to command, 
to embrace the State of Texas. Headquarters at Galveston. 

17. The department of Arkansas,- Major GeneralJ. J. Reynolds to com- 
mand, to embrace the State of Arkansas and the Indian Territory. Head- 
quarters at Little Rock. 



23 

18. The department of the Cohimbia, Brigadier General F. Steele to 
command, to embrace the State of Oregon, and Territories of Washing- 
ton and Idaho. Headquarters at Fort Vancouver. 

19. The department of California, Major General Irvin IMcDowell to 
command, to embrace the States of California and Nevada and Territories 
of New Mexico and Arizona. Headquarters at San Francisco. 

1. The military diviirion of the Atlantic, Major General George G. 
Meade to command, to embrace the department of the east, middle de- 
partment, department of Virginia, department of North Carolina and 
department of South Carolina Headquarters at Philadelphia. 

2. The military division of the Mississippi, Major General ^Y. T. Sher- 
man to command, to embrace the department of the Ohio, department of 
the Missouri and department of Arkansas. Headquarters at St. Louis. 

3. The military division of the Gulf, Major General P. H. Sheridan to 
command, to embrace the department of Louisiana, department of Texas, 
and department of Florida. Headquarters at New Orleans. 

4. The military division of the Tennessee, Major General G. H. Thomas 
to command, to embrace the department of the Tennessee, department of 
Kentucky, department of Georgia, department of Mississippi and depart- 
ment of Alabama. Headquarters at Nashville. 

5. The military division of the Pacific, Major General H. W. Halleck to 
command, to embTace the department of the Columbia and department 
of California. Headquarters at San Francisco. 

Indian hostilities upon the plains and the overland routes to the Pacific 
coast have given much annoyance, required the employment of many 
troops, and occasioned great expense to the military department. Seve- 
ral Indian councils have been held during the past season, and large 
military expeditions sent out against hostile tribes and bands. "What has 
been accomplished by treaty or by fighting will doubtless be exhibited in 
the official reports of the Indian campaigns, which have not yet reached 
the department. 

Disbanding the troops reduces at once the amount to be expended in 
some items of appropriation, but in others requires larger immediate ex- 
penditures. Upon their dischai"gc the soldiers became entitled to all the 
instalments of bounty which would have fallen due at later periods, and 
in many cases exceeding a year's pay. The transportation of large armies 
from the field, in southern States, to their remote homes in the west, or in 
eastern and northern States, made extraordinary drafts on the quarter- 
master's department, bej^ond what would be required for armies march- 
ing or encamped. The vast amount of live stock on hand requires forage 
until sales can be made. These are etfected Avith the utmost diligence; 
but still this large item of expenditure continues through a large part of 
the fiscal year. The financial effects, therefore, of the reduction of the 
army and retrenchment of expenditures can only operate to any great 
extent on the next fiscal year. 

To accomplish the great object of promptly reducing the militaiy ex- 
penditures, the following general order was made by the Secretary of 
War on the 28th of April. 



24. 

For reducing expenses of the military establishment. 

General Orders, No. 77. — Ordered — I. "That the chiefs of the re- 
spective bureaus of this department proceed immediately to reduce the 
expenses of their respective departments to what is absolutely necessary, 
in view of an immediate reduction of the forces in the field and garrison, 
and the speedy termination of hostilities, and that they severally make 
out statements of the reduction they deem practicable. 

"II. That the Quartermaster General discharge all ocean transports 
not required to bring home troops in remote departments. All river and 
inland transportation will be discharged except that required for neces- 
sary supplies to troops in the field. Purchases of horses, mules, wagons, 
and other land transportation will be stopped; also purchases of forage, 
except what is required for immediate consumption. All purchases for 
railroad construction and transportation will also be stopped. 

" III. That the Commissary General of Subsistence stoj) the purchase of 
supplies in his department, except for such as may, with what is on hand, 
be required for the forces in the field, to the first of June next. 

"IV. That the chief of ordinance stop all purchases of arms, ammuni- 
tion, and materials therefor, and reduce the manxifacturing of arms and 
ordinace stores in government arsenals as rapidly as can be done without 
injury to the service. 

" V. That the chief of engineers stoji work on all field fortifications and 
other works, except those for which specific appropriations Lave been 
made by Congress for completion, or that may be required for the proper 
protection of works in progress. 

"VI. That all volunteer soldiers (patients) in hospitals, except veteran 
volunteers, veterans of the First Army Corps (Mancock's) and enlisted men of 
the Veteran Reserve Corps, Avho require no further medical treatment, be 
honorably discharged from seiwice, with immediate payment. 

"All officers and enlisted men who have been prisoners of war, and now 
on furlough or at the parole camps, and all recruits in rendezvous, except 
those for, the regular army and the First Army Corps (^Hancock's,) will like- 
wise be honorably discharged. 

" Officers whose duty it is, under the regulations of the service, to make 
out rolls and other final papers connected with the discharge and pay- 
ment of soldiers, are directed to make them out without dehiy, so that 
this order may be carried into eff'ect immediately. Commanding generals 
of armies and departments will look to the prompt execution of this work. 

"VII. The Adjutant General of the axraj will cause immediate returns 
to be made by all commanders in the field, garrisons, detatchments and 
posts, of their respective forces, with a view to their immediate reduc- 
tion. 

"VIII. The quartei-master's, subsistence, ordinance, engineer, and Pro- 
vost Marshal General's departments will reduce the number of clerks and 
employees to that absolutely required for closing the business of their re- 
spective depai'tments, and will, Avithout delay, report to the Secretary of 
War the number required of each class or grade. 

"The Surgeon General will make similar reductions of medical officers, 
nurses, and attendants in his bureau. 

" IX. The chiefs of the respective bui'caus will immediately cause pro- 
perty return to be made out of the public property in their charge, and a 
statement of the property in each that may be sold, upon advertisement 
and public sale, without prejudice to the service. 



25 

"X. The commissary of prisoners will have rolls made out of the name, 
residence, time and place of capture and occupation of all prisoners of 
war who will take the oath of allegiance to the United States, to the end 
that such as are disposed to become good and loyal citizens of the United 
States, and who are proper objects of executive clemency, may be released 
upon the terms that to the President may seem lit and consistent with 
public safety." i 

The administrative details of the department during the great military 
operations that have been mentioned, and what has been done towards a 
reduction to a peace establisment, will appear in the reports of the re- 
spective chiefs of bureaus. 

Adjutant GeneraVs report. — From the report of the Adjutant General, it 
will be seen that the recruiting service of the regular army is progressing 
favorably; the number of recruits enlisted for all arms, from October 31, 
18G4, to October 1, 1865, having been 19,555. The regim^ents comprising 
it have been distributed to stations, and their ranks are rapidly tilling up, 
thus enabling the department to relieve regiments of volunteer troops. 
The present authorized strength of the regular regiments is 952 oflScers 
and 41,819 enhsted men. This estimate is made on the basis of 42 pri- 
vates to a company, the number now allowed by law at all except fron- 
tier posts. 

It is recommended in the report that the maximum standard be fixed 
at 100 enlisted men to a company. 

The Adjutant General recommends that provisions be made by law for 
enlisting one hundred boys, not over twelve years of age, as musicians, 
as was done before the laws of 1864 and 1865 prohibited the enUstment 
of minors under the age of sixteen years; that the laws by which one- 
half of their pa}^, during the period of absence, is lost by officers absent 
with leave for more than thirt}' days in one year, except from wounds or 
sickness, be repealed; and that an act be passed providing for the enlist- 
ment of meritorious disabled soldiers as superintendents of the national 
cemetries, numbering about forty, each to receive the pay and allowance 
of an ordinance sergeant. 

Eight volumes of reports of battles, w^ith maps and indexes, prepared 
under the resolution of Congress of May 19, 1864, have been completed 
and sent to the government printing office. The publication of the greater 
part of the remaining reports is only deferred until the receipt of others 
not yet rendered, and which are required to preserve the chronological 
order observed in the preparation of the volumes already completed. 
The register of volunteer officers called for by resolution of June 30, 1864, 
and embracing some 200,000 names, will be completed by the time Con- 
gress assembles. 

The aggregate of volunteers, drafted men, and substitutes ordered to the 
field between the Ist of November, 1864, and 30th of April, 1865, was 
202,117. The number of volunteers, drafted men, and militia mustered 
out and discharged within the same period was 61,000. In disbanding 
the forces no longer required after the cessation of hostilities, the same 
machinery of mustering officers and depots has been used as in recruit- 
ing. Hegiments have been sent home as fast as they could be transported 
and paid, the officers being held responsible for the good beharior of the 



26- 

men. Instances have been rare of any disorders. Much credit is duo to 
mustering officers, paymasters, and railroad companies, through whose 
efforts troops, numbering in the aggregate 800,963 men, have been trans- 
ported, mustered out and paid. 

On the 28th of April, 1865, it was ordered that retm-us be made of the 
volunteer forces in the field, with a view to their immediate reduction, 
and in connexion with this order regulations were prepared and promul- 
gated for their muster out and discharge. In executing this work, prompt- 
ness and a proper protection of the interests of the government and the 
troops were held in view; and- among other ineasures necessary to its 
completion, rendezvous were established in the field, as well as in most of 
the States. At the field rendezvous all surplus propertj^ was taken pos- 
session of by the staff officers of the respective supply departments, and 
the muster-out rolls and other discharge papers prepared under the direc- 
tions of corps commissaries of musters and their assistants. Corps and 
department commanders were instructed to see that the work was pushed 
with energy, using for that end the division and brigade commanders, 
with their respective staff officers to superintend it. As soon as a regi- 
ment or other oi'ganization had its muster-out papers prepared, it was 
placed en route to its State for payment and final dischai'ge. At the 
State rendezvous was located the chief mustering officer of the State, or 
one or more of his assistants, with paymasters, quartermasters, commis- 
saries of subsistence and ordnance oificers, whose duties were with the 
l^ajnnent and final discharge of the troops; their care whilst awaiting the 
same; the reception of the public propert}^ turned in by them, and their 
transj)ortation to their homes after discharge. 

By the foregoing arrangements the entire force of commissaries and 
assistant commissaries of musters for troops in the field have been made 
available for the work, in connexion with the chief and other State mus- 
tering officers. The most experienced mustering officers and those most 
familiar with the regimental records were secured; the records from 
which the mustering out data was to be obtained were readily accessible, 
and the loss of records, (so common through the neglect of regimental . 
officers,) whilst the regiments were en route from the field to their States, 
was avoided. Regimental officers have been held to a rigid accountability 
in preparing the records, and the interests of the enlisted men thus pro- 
tected. Order and discipline has been maintained whilst troops were en 
route to the States and after arrival therein. Troops have been com- 
fortably cared for up to the moment tlic}^ were paid off and ready to start 
for their homes. Dissatisfaction among them has been obviated and 
causes for complaint removed, and all public property has been easily 
secui-ed and readily accounted for. 

The arrangements for the care of discharged troops being completed, 
orders to muster out and discharge the forces from service were issued as 
follows : 

April 29. — All recruits, drafted men, substitutes, and volunteers re- 
maining at the several State depots. 

May 4. — All patients in hospitals, except veteran volunteers and vete- 
rans of the first army cops, (Hancock's.) 

May 8. — All troops of the cavalry arm whose terms of service would 
expire pri»r to October 1. 



27 



to 



May 9. — All officers and enlisted men whose terms would expire prior 
May ol, inclusive. 

May 17. — All organizations of white troops in the arm}' of the Potomac 
whose terms of service would expire prior to September 80, inclusive. 

May IS. — All organizations of white troops in Major General Sherman's 
cominand, whose terms of service would expire prior to September 30, 
inclusive. 

May 29.— All light artillery in the army of the Potomac, ninth army 
corps, army of Georgia, and army of the Tennessee. 

May 29.— All organizations of white troops whose terms of service 
would expire prior to September 30, inclusive, in armies and departments, 
except departments of the east, New Mexico, Pacific, and northern. 

June 2.— All surplus light artillery; that only absolutely required by 
the necessities of the service in the res])ective armies and departments 
to be retained. 

June 5.— All dismounted cavalry, all infantry in the northern depart- 
ment and department of the east, and all cavalry in the department of 
the east. 

June 16.— All troops in the department of the Pacific whose terms of 
service Avould expire prior to October 1. 

June 17.— All enlisted men of the veteran reserve corps who would 
have been entitled to their discharge had they remained with their regi- 
ments. 

June 28.— 18,000 veterans (infantry) of the army of the Potomac; 
15,000 of the army of the Tennessee, (then consisting of the remanung 
reiments of the army of Georgia and army of the Tennessee;) and 7,000 
of the 7niddle military division. 

June 30. — All surplus troops, except in the deparmcnt of the Gulf, army 
of the Tennessee, provisional corps army of the Potomac, and 1st army 
corps. Strength of commands, for all arms, to be reduced to the mini- 
mum necessary to meet the requirements of the service. 

July 1. — All remaining veteran regiments of the army of the Tennessee 
and provisional corps; army of the Potomac, (that corps was the rem- 
nant of the army of the Potomac.) 

July 6. — The remainder of the army of the Tennessee. 

Jul}' 7. — The remainder of the provisional corps army of the Potomac. 

July 21.— All cavalry in the department of Yirginia except_ two regi- 
ments, all in the department of North Carolina except one regiment, and 
all in the middle department except one regiment. 

August 1.— All white troops., infantry, cavalry, and artillery, in the de- 
partment of Texas, which, in the judgment of Major General Sheridan, 
could be dispensed with. 

August 3. — The same order was extended to the department of 
Louisiana. 



28 

Aagust 14.— vAdditional infantry and lieavy artillery (white) in military 
departments, as follows: Virginia, 5,000; North Carolina, 8,000; Washing- 
ton, 8,000; Mississippi, 2,000; Kentucky, 5,000; middle, 6,000. 

August 21. — 3,000 additional white troops in the department of Arkansas. 

September 8. — All surplus troops in the department of "Washington, so 
as to reduce that command to 6,000 officers and men of all arms. 

September 8. — All organizations of colored troops which were enlisted 
in northern States. 

October 9. — All the remaining forces (white) of the cavalry arm east 
of the Mississipjii. 

.October 9. — All troops on the Pacific coast, as many as possible im- 
mediately; the remainder on the arrival of the last battalion of the four- 
teenth United States infantry. 

October 10. — All troops in 'New Mexico; one regiment immediately, 
the remainder on the arrival of certain regular troojDS. 

In addition to the foregoing, and from time to time, as the services of 
the troops could be dispensed with, sixty-eight regiments, seven companies, 
and six battallions were ordered mustered out. 

The rapidity with which the work has been executed will be apparent 
fi*om the fact that to August 7, 640,806 troops had been mustered out; 
August 22, 719,338; September 14, 741,107; October 15, 785,205; Novem- 
ber 15, 800,963. 

The command of Major General Sherman (army of the Tennessee and 
armj^ of Georgia) and the army of the Potomac were first to complete 
their musters-out entirely. Kegiments commenced leaving General 
Sherman's command, then numbering, present and absent, 116,183 officers 
and men, from the rendezvous, near Washington, on the 29th of May, and 
on the 1st of August the last one of the regiments mustered out left 
Louisville, Kentucky, to v\^hich point the command (after the musters-out 
therefrom were partly completed,) was transferred, and the armies com- 
posing it merged into one, called the army of the Tennessee. The w^ork 
of mustering out the troops Avas not continuous, it having been inter- 
rupted and delaj^ed hy the ti*ansfer of the two armies from this city to 
Louisville, and their subsequent consolidation. 

Regiments commenced leaving the army of the Potomac (when nuhi- 
bering, including 9th corps, 162,851 officers and men, present and absent,) 
from the rendezvous near this city on the 29th of May, and about six 
weeks thereafter (Jul}^ 19) the last regiment started for home. During 
the interval the Avork, like that from (ycneral Sherman's command, was 
not continuous, it being interrupted and delayed by the movement of the 
6th corps from Danville, Virginia, to Washington, and the consolidation, 
by orders of June 28th, of the remaining portion of the army into a pro- 
visional corps, numbering, present and absent, 22,699 officers and men. 

Thus, for the two commands in question, and between the 29th of May 
and the 1st of August, (two months,) 279,034 officers and men, present and 
absent, were mustered out and placed en route to their homes. Including 
other armies and departments, the number was increased by August 7 
(two months and seven days) to 649,800 officers and men. 



29 ■ 

From tliG foregoing it will be seen tliat the mass of the forces discharged 
were mustered out by September 14, or within two and a half months 
from the time the movements of ti'oops homeward commenced. The 
average per month during that time is 29(3,442. 

By reference to the report of the officer in charge of the bureau for the 
organization of colored troops, it will be seen that the increase in the 
number of these troops since his last annual report is 49,509, of wliieh 
4,244 were recruited in the States in rebellion, and credited to the loyal 
States under the provisions of the act of July 4, 18G4. The whole number 
of colored men enlisted into the service of the United States during the 
rebellion was ITS, 975. The largest number in service was, on the 15th of 
July, 1865, viz., 123,156. The loss during the war from all causes, except 
muster-out, was 68,178. There have been 83,234 colored troops mustered 
out. The' number remaining in service after existing orders for muster- 
out shall have been executed will be 85,024. The number of ap])licants 
for commissions in colored troops amounted to 9,019, of which 3,790 were 
exaniined. Of this number 1,472 were rejected, and 2,318 received ap- 
pointments. The number of soldiers discharged from regiments, etc., of 
white troops to accept appointments in organizations of colored troo])S, 
was 1,767. It is ascertuined, from the reports of inspecting officers, that 
the ?nora^t' of the organization is good. 

Provost Marshal General. — On the 1st day of November, 1864, the date 
to which the last annual report of the provost marshal general was brought 
up, the business of recruiting and the draft under the call of July 18, 1804, 
was in progress : 

The number called for was 500,000 

Eeduced by credits on former calls 205,673 



To be obtained 234,327 



The whole number of voluntary enlistments under that call was 188,172 
viz : 

Volunteers, (white) - . 146.392 

Volunteers, (colored) 15,961 

Regulars, . ". 6,339 

Seamen 17,606 

Marine Coi-ps, 1,874 



Total, • 188,172 

The whole number of drafted men and substitutes obtained under 
that call was 54,707, viz : 

Number held to personal service, 26,205 

Number of substitutes for drafted men, , 28,502 



54,707 
Number of substitutes for enrolled men, 29,584 



Total, ^ . ... 84,291 

Whole number obtained under the July call, 272,463 



30. 

On the lOtli of December, 1864, a call was made for three huudred 
thousand (300,000) men. 

Under this call the whole number of voluntaiy enlistments was 157,058 : 

Yolunteers, (white) 130,620 

Volunteers, (colored) 10,055 

Eegulars, 6,958 

Seamen, ' 9,106 

Marine corps, 319 

Total, 157,058 

The whole number of drafted men and substitutes under that call 
was 24,580 : 

JSTumber held to personal service, 12,566 

Number of substitutes for drafted men, 12,014 

24,580 
Number of substitutes for enrolled men, 12.997 



Total, . 37,577 



Whole number raised under December call was 194,635 



The suspension of active militarj^ operations occurred while the busi- 
ness of the draft, under this call, was in progress, and orders were issued 
on the 13th of April, 1865, to discontinue the business of recruiting and 
drafting ; and on the next day all drafted men who had not been for- 
warded to general rendezvous wei-e ordered to be discharged, and soon 
after all who had not been forwarded to the field were discharged by 
orders through the Adjutant General. 

The aggregate quotas charged against the several States, under 
all calls made by the President of the United States, from the 
15th day of April, 1861, to the 14th day of April, 1865, at 
which time drafting and recruiting ceased, was . . '. . , 2,759,049 

The terms of service varjang from three months to three years, 
as shown in detail by the books of the Provost Marshal Gene- 
ral's office. 

The aggregate number of men credited on the several calls, and 
put itito service of tne United States in the army, navy, and 
marine corps, during the above period, Avas 2,656,553 



Leaving a deficiency on all calls, when the war closed, of . . 102,496 

Which would have been obtained in full if recruiting and drafting had 
not been discontinued. 

This number does not embrace the " emergency men" put into service 
during the summer of 1863, by the States of NewYork, JSlew Jersey, and 
Pennsylvania, nor those furnished by the States of Ohio^ Indiana, and 
Illinois, during the "Morgan raid," amounting in all to over 120,000 men, 
served periods of about two or three weeks. 



31 

In estimating tlic number of troops called into service, it has been the 
rule of the department to take into account the whole number of men 
mustered, without regard to the fact that the same persons may have 
been previously discharged, after having been acceiitcd and credited on 
previous calls. 

Under the different calls, volunteers have been accepted for various 
terms of service, viz : three, six, and nine montlis, and one, two, and three 
years respectively; and a large number of persons who had served under 
one call have subsequently eulistcd under another. Thus a portion of 
those who enlisted under the call in April, 18G1, for 75,000 three-months 
men, again ejilisted under succeeding call in July following for three 
years; others re-entered the service for nine months, or for one or two 
years, and at the expiration of these periods again re-enlisted for three 
years, and the entire " veteran volunteer" force consisted of those who, 
having served two j'ears, re-enlisted for three years more. 

It will be observed, therefore, that a large portion of the num- 
ber counted in filling calls has been furnished, first, by the re-enlist- 
ment of those in service, and second, by those who have re-entered 
the service after a discharge from a former enlistment under which 
they had been credited; that is, the difterent calls were tilled by 
crediting each accepted enlistment, instead of limiting the credit to the 
actual number of persons who entered the service anew; and hence to 
determine the number of men actually entering the service for the first 
time, under the different calls, the nmuber credited should be reduced in 
the same ratio that the enlistments of the same persons have been re- 
peated. The extent of this reduction cannot be calculated at this time, 
or even estimated w^ith suflicient accuracy to bo useful. 

It follows, therefore, that on account of a necessary repetition of credits, 
incident to enlistments, the tax upon the military basis of the country 
has been less than would appear by considering simply the number of 
men embraced in the difterent calls for troops, or the number of credits 
allowed upon these calls. 

The amount of commutation money received from November 1, 1864, 
to November 1, 18G5, was : 

On account of draft and substitute fund 6317,130 00 

On account of sick and wounded soldiers (from non-com- 
batants, under section 17 of the act of February 21, 1864) 340,987 53 

Total 658,117 53 

The total amount of "draft and substitute fund" received 

under the act approved March 3, 18G3, is 825,902,029 25 

The total amount expended 16,387135 80 

Balance remaining in treasury to credit of this fund . . 9,514,893 45 



fund 



There arc just claims still outstanding which have to be met from this 



\ 



32 

• 

The regiments of the veteran reserve corps have been performing garri- 
son duty in Washington and its defensive works, at the various depots 
for recruits and drafted men, at the provost marshal's rendezvous, 
escorting recruits to the field, and more recently performing garrison 
duty at the several rendezvous for muster-out of the volunteer forces. 

Since the termination of active operations no transfers have been made 
to this corjis, nor have any officers been appointed. 

The amount expended from the appropriation for " collecting, drilling, 
and organizing volunteers," from l!N0vember 1, 1864, to November 1, 1865, 
was $1,422,281 73. 

The balance of this appropriation remaining in the treasury is 
$12,103,380, 09, and about half a million dollars is still in the hands of the 
disbursing officers, which is needed to pay outstanding accounts and ex- 
penses incurred in mustering out the volunteer forces of the United 
States. 

As fast as the exigencies of the service permitted, the force employed 
has been reduced. The surgeons and commissioners of boai'ds of enrol- 
ment in all the districts, 370 in number, have been discharged. The 
different districts have been consolidated, and but thirty-three provost 
marshals are now in service, all of whom Avill be discharged as soon as 
their services can be dispensed with. 

No appropriation of money will be required for the support of this 
bureau during the next fiscal year. 

The full report of the operations of the Provost Marshal General's 
bureau will contain much statistical and other valuable information, which 
will be submitted when completed. 

Paymaster General. — The Pa.y master General reports that during the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1865, $7,839,225 47 were paid to the re'gular 
army, while $300,738,035 95 were paid to volunteers, and that the "total 
disbursements since June 30, 1864, to the date of his report, amount in 
the aggregate to $524,054,946 37. Payments amounting to $270,000,000 
have been made to about 800,000 mustei-ed-out troops. The highest 
number of additional paymasters in service during the fiscal year was 
447; the number now in service is 210. All the troops retained in service 
have been paid to June 30, 1865, and many organizations to August 31, 
1865, and to all discharged troops in full to date of discharge. 

The anticipated payments of bounties to soldiers, and thi-ee months' 
additional pay to ofiicers mustered out that has fallen due by reason of 
muster-out, amount to ninety-one millions seven hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars,($91,750,000.) 

The whole sum disbursed hy the pay department since the commence- 
ment of the war, viz., from July 1, 1861, to July 1, 1865, amounts to one 
thousand and twenty-nine millions two hundred and thirty-nine thousand 
dollars, (1,029,239,000.) 

The total losses and defalcations during the same period, if nothing 
should be recovered, amount to the sum of five hundred and forty-one 



83 

thousand dollars, ($541,000,) and it is believed that not less than half of 
this amount will be recovered. The total expenses of disbursement, in- 
cluding all pay and allowances, commutation of quarters, fuel and travel- 
ling expenses, for four years and four months, amount to six millions four 
hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred dollars, (86,429,600.) 

Thus it is seen that the costs of disbursement to ai'mies in the field, and 
amid ail the hazards of unexampled war, and including all losses and ex- 
penses, are less than three-fourths of one per cent. 

Commissary General of Subsistence. — The subsistence stores required 
during the year for distribution to the armies in the field, have, as during 
the earlier j^ears of the war, been purchased in the principal markets of 
the northern States. The fiicilities and cost of transportation to the va- 
rious points where they were required for issue, the relative prices of the 
difi'erent markets, and a due regard to the general commercial interests 
of the country, have governed the subsistence department in apportion- 
ing those jiurc Wises among the several market centres of the country. 
As New Orleans is gradually resuming a healthy commercial condition, a 
considerable portion of the gvipplies required for distribution from that 
point can be obtained in that market. Although the present general con- 
dition of the southern States is not such as to afford a large amount of 
supplies, still subsistence olficers are able, in some parts of those States, 
to enter into contracts for the partial supply of the troops serving therein. 

The principal purchasing officers have exhibited much ability in the 
performance of their duties, and great fidelity to the interests of the 
country. The principal commissaries immediately responsible for th^ 
subsistence of the several armies in the field have discharged the import- 
ant and often difficult duties of receiving, protecting, and distributing the 
supplies forwarded to them with commendable efficiency and success. 
They have also, by great energy, been able to a considerable extent to 
subsist the troops upon the resources of the country in which the armies 
Avere operating, or through which they were passing. It is believed that 
during the entire war no campaign, contemplated movement, or expedi- 
^on has failed on account of the inability of the subsistence department 
to meet its proper requirements, and that the troops, wherever stationed 
or operating, have, with rare exceptions, been supplied with rations in 
good and wholesome condition. 

The muster-out of a large part of the army, consequent upon the sudden 
close of active military operations, unavoidably left on hand in some of 
the depots an excessive supply of subsistence stores. These have been 
sent to other points where they were required. Surplus and damaged 
stores will be disposed of by sale. A sufficient quantity of hard bread and 
other articles have been kept from earlier sale with the view of meeting, 
in an economical manner, the wants. of those people, white and colored, 
who, by the events of the war, have been reduced to a Buttering condition. 

Under the orders of June 20, 18C5, the whisky ration was discontinued, 
and the sale of the supply on hand has already taken place at many points, 
and will soon be completed. 

During the past year, as in previous years of the war, a very consider- 
able income has been derived I'rom the sale of the hides, tallow, and other 

parts of beef cattle not issuable as beef to the ti'oops. 
c 



Prisoners of war, held at thirty-two forts, prison-barracks, camps, and 
hospitals, have been well subsisted, having received a sufficient portion 
and variety of the ration to insure health, leaving in the hands of the 
several issuing commissaries, as " savings," that portion of the ration not 
deemed necessary for persons living in entire idleness. The pecuniary 
value of these " savings" has constituted a prison fund, available, under 
the instructions of the commissary general of prisoners, for the purchase 
of articles necessarj^ for the prison-barracks and hospitals, and for meeting 
other necessary expenses of the prisons. There has been transferred to 
the subsistence department a "savings" credit of the amount of 81,507,- 
359 01, and there remains yet to be transferred an amount not less than 
^337,766 98, making a total amount of $1,845,125 99. 

Under section 8 of the act of July 4, 18G4, 1,470 claims have been sub- 
mitted, of which 50 have been approved for payment, and 413 disallowed; 
650 are awaiting explanation, and 357 remain to be examined. 

It is proposed to ascertain and exhibit, in a tabular form, the total 
quantity of each article of subsistence stores purchased for the use of the 
army during each year of the war, from 1861 to 1865, inclusive. Such a 
statement, it is believed, would prove an interesting addition to the com- 
mercial statistics of the country. 

The officers of the subsistence department, regular and volunteer, have, 
with but few exceptions, discharged their duties with fidelity and success. 

Surgeon General. — The surgeon general reports that the receipts from 

all sources and available for the expenses of the medical department during 

*the fiscal year ending June 30, 1865, were $20,489,680 47. Disbursements 

during the 5^ear, $19,328,499 23, leaving a balance in the treasury on June 

30, of $1,161,181 24. 

The ample provision for the sick and wounded existing at the date of 
the last annual report was increased during the ensuing months until a 
maximum of 204 general hospitals, with a capacity of 136,894 beds, was 
reached. 

Upon the termination of active military movements, immediate measure 
were taken to reduce the expenses of the medical department. Of the 
201 general hospitals open on January 1, 1865, 171 have been discontinued. 
Three of the sea-going hospital transports have been discharged; the 
fourth is now constantly engaged in the transfer of sick and wounded from 
southern ports to the general hospitals in New York harbor. All of the 
river hospital-boats have been turned over to the quartermaster's depart- 
ment, and but a single hospital train has been retained in the southwest. 
The vast amount of medicines and hospital supplies made surplus by the 
reduction of the army has been carefully collected at prominent points, 
and is being disposed of at public auction, rcost of the articles bringing 
their full value, and in some instances their cost price. 

Two hundred and fourteen surgeons and assistant surgeons of volun- 
teers have been mustered out, and of the 265 hospital chaplains appointed 
during the war, twenty-nine only are still in commission. 

Th6 returns of sick and wounded show that of white troops 1,057,423 
cases have been treated in general hospitals alone, from 1861 to July 1, 
1865, of which the rate of mortality was eight per cent. In nearly all 



35 

sections of the countiy, the health of tlie troops has been fully equal to 
that of preceding years, thoMgh military movements of unprecedented 
magnitude have been pushed to successful termination, without regard 
to seasons. An epidemic of yellow fever prevailed at Newbern, N. C., in 
the fall of 18G4, and the released or exchanged prisoners arriving at "Wil- 
mington, IST. C, from rebel prisons, suffered from an epidemic of typhoid 
fever. With these exceptions no serious epidemics have ajipeared, and it 
is interesting to note that quarantine regulations, strictly enforced by 
militarj' authority, have proven, during the occupation of southern sea- 
ports and cities by our troops, to be an absolute protection against the 
importation of contagious or infectious diseases. In view of the appre- 
hensions entertained in regard to the Asiatic cholera, now devastating 
the shores of the Mediterranean, this becomes a significant fact. 

In addition to the alphabetical registers of dead, not yet fully com- 
pleted, the records of the medical department contain 30,000 (thirty thou- 
sand) special reports of the moi'e important forms of surgical injuries, of 
diseases and operations. These reports, with statistical data, and a pa- 
thological collection numbering 7.630 specimens, furnish a mass of valuable 
information, which is being rapidly arranged and tabulated, as a medical 
and surgical history of the war, for the publication of the first volume of 
which an appropriation will be asked. 

In this connexion, and as illusti*ating more in detail the importance of 
this work, the Army JMedical Museum assumes the highest value. By its 
array of indisputable facts, supported and enriched by full reports, it sup- 
plies instruction otherwise unattainable, and preserves for future applica- 
tion the dearly bought experience of four years of war. Apart from its 
great usefulness, it is also an honorable recoi'd of the skill and services of 
those medical otfieers whose contributions constitute its value, and whose 
incentive to these self-imposed labors has been the desire to elevate their 
profession. A small appropriation has been asked to continue and extend 
this collection. 

For recommendation of measures tending to the greater efficiency of 
the medical department, reference is made to the special report from the 
Surgeon General's office, which will be submitted to the appropriate con- 
gressional committees. 

Quurtermaster General. — The report of the Quartermaster General con- 
tains a statement of the operations and expenditures of the department 
under his control during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1865. The 
principal movement of troops by the quartermaster's department during 
that time are described. They have been made promptly and with few 
accidents, and are striking illustrations of the improvements in the art of 
war which have been developed during the late contest. 

The twenty-third army corps, after fighting at Nashville, in the midst 
of ice and snow in December, 1864, was, on the conclusion of the campaign 
in the west, transferi'cd from the valley of the Tennessee to the banks of 
the Potomac, moving by river and rail down the Tennessee, up the Ohio, 
across the snow-covered Alleghanies, a distance of 1,400 miles, and in the 
short space of eleven days was encamped on the banks of the Potomac, 
then blocked up with the ice of a most severe winter. Vessels were col- 
lected to meet this corps, the obstacles interposed by the ice were over- 



36. 

come, and early iu February the troops composing it were fighting before 
Wilmington, ou the coast of North Carolina. 

The transfer of the eleventh and twelfth corps, under General Hooker, 
in 1863, from the Potomac to the Tennessee, is the 'only parallel to this 
movement. That was' an almost unexampled operation at the time. 
General Hooker's command contained 23,000 men, and was accompanied 
by its artillery and trains, baggage and animals, and accomplished the 
distance from the Eapidan, in Virginia, to Stevenson, in Alabama, a dis- 
tance of eleven hundred and ninetj^-two miles, in seven days, crossing the 
Ohio river twice. The twenty-third army corps moved 15,000 strong. 

Other important operations are described, among which are the supply 
of the army of Lieutenant General Grant before Eichmond; of the army 
of General Sherman at Atlanta, preparatory to his march to Savannah; 
of the saine army at the depots on the Atlantic, on his communicating 
with the coast, first at Savannah and afterwarfls at Goldsborough, at both 
of which places depots were established, and his army re-inforced and 
equipped with everything necessary to make successful campaigns. 

The transfer of the twenty-fifth army corps, 25,000 strong, in the month 
of May, from the James to the uoast of Texas, is fully described, and the 
extent and cost of the fleet used in this movement are set forth in full. 

Transportation was promptl}" supplied from all parts of the south to 
their homes in the north, for the immense army which has been disbanded, 
and the organization of the department which has made it possible to 
meet these demands so promptly is believed to have been at least as per- 
fect as that of any other nation. 

The report gives tables of the quantities of the principal military sup- 
plies, clothing, forage, fuel, horses, mules and wagons, which have been 
purchased, transported, and used during the fiscal year. It contains full 
statements of the vessels which have been in the service during that time 
upon the western rivers and upon the ocean and bays. Many of them 
have now been been discharged from service or advertised for sale, orders 
for the reduction of the transport fleet having been given as soon as 
hostilities ceased. 

The return of the armies from the south, the transportation of the dis- 
charged soldiers to their homes, the transfer of trooi)s to Texas, the return 
of refugees expelled from the south by General Sherman, and of rebel 
prisoners released at the termination of the war, have, however, taxed 
the resources of the quartermaster's department heavily during the last 
spring and summer. 

The transport service has been most satisfactorily performed. Upon 
the ocean a fleet of over 700 vessels has been constantly employed, with 
the reported loss by storm, by collision, and by fire, of only three; one 
steamship was destroyed in each of these modes. 

The repair of the railroads from Chattanooga to Atlanta by the military 
railroad branch of the quartermaster's department, under the charge of 
Brevet Brigadier Generiu D. C. McCallum, was referred to in the last annual 
report. Upon the advance of General Sherman from Atlanta, he destro^-ed 
the railroad in his rear, blew up all the railroad buildings at Atlanta, sent 
back his surplus stores and all the railroad machinery which had to that 



37 

time supplied bis army. The stores and the railroad stock were safely 
Avi til drawn to Nashvillle, and after the dispersion of the army of Hood, 
whieh had broken the railroad in Georgia and Tennessee in its advance, 
the railroad construction corps again touk the field, and reopened railroad 
communication -with Cliattanooga, Atlanta, and Decatur. After the fall 
of Macon and Augusta, it became necessary, in order to supply the army 
of Major General •Wilson, to open railroad communication between 
Augusta and Atlanta, and Macon. This Avas successively accomplished. 

A division of the construction corps, fully organized, under the com- 
mand of Colonel \\'right, with tools and equipments, was transferred, in 
December and January, from the Tennessee to Savannah, by way of 
Baltimore. As General Sherman did not repair the railroads of Georgia 
and South Carolina, but marched northward, Hghtl}' equipped, living upon 
the supplies in his wagon trains, and by foraging upon the enemy, this 
division of the construction corps was transferred to Beaufort, Noi'th 
Carolina, and after its fall to Wihiiington, where it repaired and restocked 
the railroads from these ports to Goldsborough and to Raleigh. General 
Sherman's army was thus quickly provisioned, reclad, reshod, and 
equipped for a march to the James. 

The surrender of the rebel armies and pacification of the southern States 
have enabled the quartermaster's department to return to their former 
possessors most of the railroads whieh have been in militaiy possession 
during the war. The department, in transferring them to their boards 
of dii-ectors — reorganized upon a loyal footing — delivers up the roads and 
bi'idges in w^hatever condition the}^ may be at the time of the transfer. 

The great accumulation of railroad engines and cars upon the western 
military railroads is being disposed of to the railroads of the southwest, 
Avhich have suffered severelj^ from the operations of both ai-mies during 
the war. Under the orders of the Executive this stock is being delivered 
to the companies, who are to pay for it within two years, at a valuation 
fixed by a board of officers and experts, assembled by the government. 

The reconstruction of these roads and their successful operation are of 
great importance, not only to the districts in Avhich they are located, but 
to the general commerce and prosperity of the countr}-; and the liberal 
policy pursued towards them will react favorably upon the revenue and 
credit of the nation. 

The agreement made early in the war with the railroad companies of 
the loyal States, fixing reduced rates of militaiy transportation, i-emains 
in force, and has been extended to the railroads in the southern States 
since the termination of hostilities. 

Full reports are given of the quantities of clothing, camp and garrison 
equipage furnished to our armies daring the past year, anil also during 
the war. The tables accompanying the quartermaster general's report 
give information on these points, which shows in a favorable light the 
manufacturing power of the country. 

The vast supplies of forage required for the armies have been promptly 
furnished and transported to the depots. While moving through the 
southern country- the armies found ample quantities, and it was only when 
lying still in camp that they had any difficulty in supplying themselves. 



38 . 

During the year over 29,000,000 bushels of grain and 400,000 tons of 
ha}' have been provided by the depots of the quartermaster's department; 
336,000 cords of wood and 832,000 tons of coal have also been supplied by 
the depots. Troops in the field have supplied themselves with fuel from 
the forests in which they have operated. The depots of the quarter- 
master's department have, during the war, furnished the arm}^ with 
23,000,000 bushels of corn, 78,000,000 bushels of oaffe, 93,000 bushels of 
barley, 1,500,000 tons of hay, 20,000 tons of straw, 550,000 cords of wood, 
and i, GOO, 000 tons of coal, all of which have been purchased, measured, 
transported, issued, and accounted for by its offi'eers and agents. At the 
depot of Washington alone there have been issued during the year 4,500,000 
bushels of corn, 29,000,000 bushels of oats, 490,000 tons of hay, 210,000 
cords of wood, and 392,000 tons of coal. 

The supply of horses and mules for the army has been regular and 
sufficient. There were purchased during the fiscal jcvlv 141,632 cavalry 
horses; from September 1st, 1864, to 30th June, 1865, 20,714 artillery 
horses; and from 1st July, 1864, to 30th June, 1865, 58,818 mules. Prices 
of horses varied during the year from $144 to $185 ; of mules, from §170 
to §195. 

The reduction of the army has enabled the quartermaster's department 
to dispense with large numbers of horses and mules, and to the 17th Oc- 
tober the sales of animals are estimated to have produced §7,000,000. 

The teams and animals of the army have, as during previous fiscal 
years, averaged about one wagon to twenty-four men in the field, and one 
horse or mule to eveiy two men. 

The burial records of the quartermaster's department, which do not 
include the names of those who fell in battle and were buried immediately 
on the field by their comrades, show the interment in cemeteries of 116,- 
148 persons, of whom 98,827 were loyal, 12,596 disloyal, and of whom 
95,8.'3 were whites and 20,345 colored persons. 

The militar}^ cemeteries at Washington, Alexandria, Arlington, and 
Chattanooga, have been carefully tended and decorated. 

An officer, with material and men, to mark the graves of our brethren 
who fell victims to rebel barbarity at Andersonville, was dispatched from 
Washington as soon as the country was opened to us, and reports that he 
has enclosed the cemetery and marked the graves of 12,912 soldiers buried 
therein. Of these the captured records of the prison hospital enabled 
him to identify 12,461, and their names were recorded upon head-boards, 
painted white, and planted at the head of their graves. On 451 graves 
he Avas compelled to put the sad inscription, " tjnknown U. S. soldier." 
The list of these names is in course of publication. The names of those 
who have been interred in the military cemeteries of the District of Co- 
lumbia and at Arlington have already been published and distributed to 
State authorities and public institutions, as well as to newspapers which 
publish official advertisements, so as to be made accessible to their friends. 

The military organization of the operatives and agents of the quarter- 
master's department, referred to in the last annual report, was kept up 
until the close of the war. It did good service in the fortifications, at the 
attack on Washington in July, at the attack on Johnsonville in the fall, 



39 

and bore a part in tlie battle of Nasliville, on the 15tb and IGtb of De- 
cember, ISOlr, which gave the final blow to the rebellion in the west. 
Upon the cessation of hostilities this organization was disbanded, its arms 
restored to the arsenal, and most of its members have returned to peace- 
ful j)ursuits. 

The employment of colored men in the quartermaster's department, in 
connexion w^th the trains of the army, as laborers at depots and as pio- 
neers of the troops of the western army, continued to the close of the war. 
In all these positions they have done good service and materially contrib- 
uted to the tinal victory which confirmed their freedom. 

The great cost of transportation of supplies across the western plains 
and mountains to the depots and posts of the wilderness, and for the sup- 
ply of troops operating against the Indians, is reported, and the Quarter- 
master General calls attention to the importance, in this view, of the 
vigoi'ous prosecution of the work of the railroads to connect the Missis- 
sippi valley with the Pacific coast, as a militarj^ precaution and a measure 
of economy, deserving the fostering care of the government. 

Betrenchment in the QuQ.rtermaster General's bureau. — The Quartermaster 
General reports that immediately on the termination of active hostilities, 
under orders from the Secretary of War, he took measures to reduce ex- 
penditures; to discharge operatives and agents; to discharge chartered 
transports, and to sell those belonging to the United States not needed to 
bring home troops for muster-out; to reduce the number of horses in re- 
serve at the depot; to stop the purchase of horses and mules, and to sell 
those belonging to the troops disbanded; to cease making contracts and 
purchases of clothing and equipment ; to stop the repair and construction 
of military railroads; to return all such railroads to their former ownei's, 
and to sell or dispose of the rolling stock and other material used thereon. 

He reports sales of 128,840 horses and mules, for wdiich the sum of 
$7,500,000 was received. 

Of 5,355 persons employed in the cavalry bureau, three-fourths have 
been discharged. Those still employed are engaged in receiving, caring 
for, and selling the animals tui'ned in by the armies. 

The purchase and manufacture of clothing, which during the past fiscal 
year had caused an expenditure of between eight and nine millions per 
month, has ceased entirely, and, by compromise with merchants, contracts 
for clothing and equipment, amounting to four millions of dollars, have 
been cancelled. 

Twenty-five hundred buildings vacated have been ordered for sale. 

The sales of buildings, wagons, harness, tools, iron and other like 
material have realized thus far a million of dollars. 

Over seventeen hundred miles of military railroad, ojierated for the de- 
partment by twenty-three thousand seven hundred workmen and agents, 
at a monthly cost of one and a half million of dollars, have been restored 
to their former owners, and the number of persons employed in completing 
the accounts, in taking care of and disposing of the railroad pi'opert}' not 
yet sold or transferred, has been reduced to less than five hundred, the 
rest haviuf; been discharged. 



40 . 

The rolling-mill at Chattanooga, its product, and the scrap iron there 
collected, have heen sold : the mill for one hundred and seventy-five thou- 
sand dollars; the rolled iron for two hundred thousand dollars, and the old 
iron for about one hundred thousand dollars. 

Eighty-three engines and one thousand and nine cars have been sold 
for a million and a half of dollars. Over two hundred locomotives and 
two thousand cars have been sold at appraised values, on credits, to the 
southern railroads. 

Of five hundred and eighty-eight steamboats and other boats emploj^ed 
on the western rivers, all but eleven have been put out of commission. 
The sales of many of those owned by the United States have been effected. 
These sales are not yet concluded ; they Avill produce about eleven hun- 
di*ed thousand dollars. 

Of the transport fleet upon the ocean on the Ist of January last, four 
hundred and sixty steamers and vessels of all kinds have been discharged 
or laid up for sale, and many of them have alreadj^ been sold. The fleet 
has been reduced over one hundred thousand tons, and vessels are daily 
arriving at home ports to be discharged or sold. The monthly expenses 
of the transport fleet have been reduced 31,814,130. 

A million of dollars has been received from the sales of vessels belonging 
to the department, which will be iuci-eased by future sales. 

In all, 83,887 persons, employed on wages, had been discharged from the 
service of the quartermaster's department at the end of September, 1865, 
reducing its expenses per month $4,086,093. 

The sales of property of all kinds reported and recorded on the books of 
the Quartermaster General's ofiice, from the 20th of April to the 8th of 
November, 1865, amount to $13,357,345. 

The cost of forage issued to the armies during the month of IMarch last 
is estimated at three millions two hundred and ninety-four thousand dol- 
lars. In the month of September it is estimated at one million one hun- 
dred and thirty-four thousand dollars, a reduction in monthly expenditure 
of $2,160,000. The armies on the eastern coast have been supplied with 
forage purchased before the end of May last. No considerable purchases 
have been made in the east since that time. Purchases of forage since 
May have been confined to the supply of the troops in Georgia and upon 
the Gulf coast in Texas, and upon the western plains. 

The consumption of coal in the month of March last was 90,685 tons, 
costing $748,151. In September it had been reduced to 25,592 tons, cost- 
ing 8204,736, a reduction of monthly expenditure of $543,416. 

Chief Engineer.— The report of the Chief Engineer of the army gives the 
operations of the department vinder his charge, and the duties of the 
officers of the corps of engineers. This corps consisted, on June 30, 1865, 
of eighty-five officers, the Military Academj^, and five companies of engi- 
neer troops. Every member of the corps has been on duty uninterrupt- 
edly during the year. At the date of the report twelve officers, being 
generals in command of troops, were on detached service, and others were 
on staft' duty, or detailed for service under the orders of the Light-house 
Board and the Department of the Interior, the remainder being on duty 



41 

at the Military Academy, or sea-coast defences, siirve}^ of the lakes, with 
the ent^iueer battalion, and as assistants to the Chief Enii;incer. The par- 
ticular services rendered by these otiicers are recited in the narratives 
and other statements accompanying- the report, and comprise the profes- 
sional duties of the engineer, together with those of the various arms of 
the service to which the officers have been assigned. In general, every 
army and military expedition has had assigned to it officers of this corps. 
Their reports give the plans of attack and defence, as well as the outlines 
of the marches by the armies to which they were attached, and together 
constitute a comprehensive statement of the last year's operations of the 
armies. 

The sea-coast defences have progressed in proportion to the availahle 
means and the number of officers who could be assigned to this branch of 
duty. The efforts of the engineer department have been principally 
directed to constructions for mounting the guns of large calibre now 
essential in consequence of corresponding armaments in iron floating bat- 
teries. The permanent forts on the Gulf, since their repossession by the 
government, have been repaired and put in a defensive condition. The 
available means of the department will suffice to accomplish all that is 
recjuired at these works, and at those of the southern Atlantic coast, until 
plans are matured for modifications adapting them to the existing sea- 
coast armaments. 

The Military Academy has continued to furnish a limited number of 
graduates for the subordinate grades of the army, a number, however, 
which has not for years past sufficed to fill the vacancies, in the line and 
staff, occasioned by the casualties of the service. The Chief Engineer, in 
view of this fact, recommends an increase of the number of cadets ; and, 
in order to economize in the expenses of the institution, proposes a mode 
of selecting candidates from nominees for each vacancy, that will, ho 
thinks, with more certainty insure proficiency in studies and the military 
art, by those aspiring to enter the service. 

The survey of the northern lakes has progressed during the year as 
heretofore. The repairs and preservation of the harbors on the lakes and 
on the Atlantic have been prosecuted to the full extent of the rcsoui'ces of 
the department in officers and available funds. Success in this branch of 
engineering is attended with greater difficulties than are met in most 
others in which science and skill are called upon to promote the niterests 
of the country. Heretofore the plans of improvement adojjted have been 
directed to secure immediate results, and the source of the evil having been 
left to exercise its influence, has rendered constant repetitions of labor 
and expenditures necessary. The Chief Engineer is now calling upon the 
officers charged with works of this character for plans to arrest the cause 
of constant obstructions to commerce, and it is hoped that measures may 
be devised by which these improvements may be made to endure for a 
longer period, if not to become permanent in their nature. 

The expenditures of the engineer department during the year amounted 
to $5,479,420 23. 

Ordnance Bureau. — The fiscal resources for the Ordnance bureau for the 
past year amounted to §45,783,656 10, and the expenditures to 843,112,531 
27, leaving a balance of §2,671,124 83 to the credit of disbursing officers, 
in the government depositaries, on June 30, 18G5. 



42. 

The estimates for the next year are for objects not confined to a state of 
war, but for such as are required to keep up a proper state of preparation, 
and to reserve the hirge and valuable munitions of war now on hand. On 
the termination of the war, measures were promptly taken to reduce the 
procurement of supplies, and to provide storage for the munitions returned 
to the arsenals from the armies, and captured from the enemy. Common 
dious fire-proof workshops are being erected at Allegheny, Watervliet, and 
Frankford arsenals, and it is contemplated to erect similar shops at Wash- 
ington arsenal, for which there is an appropriation. These shops can be 
advantageously used for storage when their entire capacity for manufac- 
turing purposes is not needed. 

From the evident importance of arming the permanent fortifications as 
fast as they are built, the construction of cannon and carriages for this 
purpose, so far as existing appropriations warrant, has not been intermit- 
ted. It is contemplated to increase the capacity of manufacturing sea- 
coast carriages in proportion to the readiness of the forts to receive them, 
and to discontinue the fabrication of wooden carriages for field and siege 
guns, in favor of iron carriages, which experiments have shown are pre- 
ferable for that service. Cast-iron smooth-bore cannon, of large calibre, 
as now made, are found to be entirely reliable; but not so the heavy rifled 
cannon, as heretofore made and tried. The failures, on trial, of the 
wrought-iron guns made by Mr. Horatio Ames, indicate that these guns 
can not be relied upon, and that no more of them ought to be made for 
this department. Two experimental cast-iron eight-inch rifle guns have 
been made of the model and weight supposed to render them reliable for 
service. They are now undergoing extreme proof, to test them thoroughly. 

The manufacture of arms at the National Armory was reduced at the 
conclusion of hostilities as rapidly as could be done with economy, and at 
present no new muskets are being made there. With a view to change the 
model of small arms from muzzle-loaders to breech loaders, extensive ex- 
periments have been made; but the}^ have not yet resulted in the selection 
of a model of such decided excellence as to render its adoption for the ser- 
vice advisable. It is hoped that such a model may soon be found. A plan 
for altering the musket of the 2:)resent pattern into eflScient breech-loaders 
has been devised, and five thousand of them are being so altered for issue to 
troops for practical test. There are nearly one million of good Springfield 
muskets on hand, and upwards of half a million of foreign and ca2:)tured 
muskets. The latter will be sold whenever suitable prices can be obtained 
for them, and also other ordnance stores of a perishable nature, which are 
in excess of the wants of the service. 

The necessity of providing a suitable depository for gunpowder, with 
proper magazines for its storage and preservation, which was stated in the 
last annual report, is again mentioned, and the requisite legislation is 
urged. 

A partial provision for this object, as far as respects a supply for the 
Mississippi valley, has been made on the military reserve at Jefferson 
Barracks. 

The government has not yet acquired a title to the property on Rock 
island, taken possession of under the act of July 19, 1864. It is import- 
ant that this be done with as little delay as practicable. The importance 
of having full possession and control of Eock island, including the adja- 



43 

cent islands, and the right of way, is stated in the report of the Chief of 
Ordnance, and additional legislation thcrefor,_if necessary, is recommended. 

Several of the southern arsenals have been reoccupied, and it is intended 
to reoccupy thcni all, except that at Fayetteville, N. C, -which has been 
destroyed. The necessary- measures have been taken for the preservation 
of the powder mill at Augusta, and the laboratory and unlinished armory 
at Macon, Georgia, which have been captured. 

The number of permanent United States arsenals and armories is twenty- 
eight. The command and su])ervision of these, together with the inspec- 
tion services required at the arsenals, the foundries, the powder mills, and 
other private establishments engaged in work for the Government, furnish 
constant employment for the whole number of ordnance ofl&cers (sixty- 
four) now authorized by law. The proper discharge of these essential 
duties requires that that number should be continued as part of the 
military peace establishment of the country. 

The armies in the field have been amply and well supplied with arms 
and other ordnance stores, and the fortitications have had their armaments 
kept in order and sti-engthened and increased by additional guns of heavy 
calibre and great efficiency. 

The signal corps. — On the 1st of November, 1864, the signal corjis num- 
bered 1(3S officers and 1,350 enlisted men, distributed in detachments 
among the armies in the field and the military departments. All that 
portion of the signal corjis on dut}^ east of the Mississippi river has been 
mustered out of service, the act of Congress iinder which the corps was 
organized having limited its organization to the duration of the rebellion. 
There now remain nine officers and thirty-seven enlisted men in the mili- 
tary division of the Mississippi, and fifteen officers and ninety-nine enlist- 
ed men in the military division of the Gulf. These detachments are 
operating with the troops on the plains, in Texas, and along the south- 
western boundary. 

The expenditures from appropriations for the signal service amounted 
to 88,587 06, during the year ending September 80, 1865. The balance 
unexpended amounts to §248,062. 

Military telegraph. — The telegraph has continued to be a most efficient 
and important instrument in military operations. Its officers have shown 
the same devotion and fidelity which have signalized their efforts during 
former years There have been constructed during the year 3,246 miles 
of military telegraph; 8,323 miles have been in operation during the j'ear, 
and at its termination 6,228 miles were still in use. The expenditure upon 
the military telegraph during the fiscal year was $1,360,000; since the be- 
ginning of the war 62,655,500. There have been constructed and opera- 
ted in all during the war about 15,000 miles of military telegraph. Con- 
trol has been assumed of the telegraphs of the late rebel ious disti'icts as 
fast as they fell into our hands, and arrangements are now made by which 
the lines are kept in repair by the stockholders, the United States being 
at the expense only of purely military lines and stations. 

Military prisoners and prisoners of war. — The report of the Commissioner 
of Exchange exhibits the exchange transactions during the war, with sta- 
tistical tables and other information respecting the condition and treat- 
ment of prisoners on each side. 



44, 

Frequent inspections of militaiy prisons have been made from time to 
time, and all militarj' prisoners have been released, except such as were 
under sentence or awaiting trial for murder, arson, or other grave offen- 
ces. Clemency has been extended liberall}^, as was deemed compatible 
with public security. All persons imprisoned for offences against the 
draft laws have been released, and all deserters from the volunteer ser- 
vice. Since the surrender of Lee's army the danger to the national safety 
from combinations and conspiracies to aid the rebellion or resist the laws 
in the States not declared to be insurgent has passed away ; it is therefore 
recommended that the proclamation suspending the writ of habeas corpus 
in those States be revoked. 

The Commissary General of Prisoners reports that between the 1st of 
January and the 20th of October, there were in our custody ninety-eight 
thousand eight hundred and two prisoners of war. Of these nineteen 
hundred and fifty-five enlisted into the United States service. Sixty-three 
thousand four hundred and forty-two were released after the cessation of 
hostilities, and thirty-three thousand one hundred and twentj^-seven were 
delivered in exchange. Besides these, one hundred and sevent^^-four 
thousand two hundred and twenty-three prisoners surrendered in the 
different rebel armies, and were released on parole, viz. . 

Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General E. E. Lee, . 27,805 
Army of Tennessee and others, commanded by General J. B. 

Johnston, 31,243 

General Jeff. Thompson's army of Missouri, 7,978 

Miscellaneous paroles, department of Virginia, 9,072 

Paroled at Cumberland, Md., and other stations, 9,377 

Paroled by General McCook in Alabama and Florida, .... G,428 
Army of the department of Alabama, Lieutenant General R. 

Taylor, 42,293 

Army of the trans-Mississipj)i department. General E. K. Smith, . 17,686 

Paroled in the dejiartment of Washington, 3,390 

Paroled in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, 

and Texas, 13,922 

Surrendered at ISTashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee, .... 5,029 

Total, 174,223 



Judge Advocate General. — In the Bureau of Military Justice, since 
March 2, 1865, there have been received, reviewed, and filed 16,-591 rec- 
ords of general courts-martial and military' commissions, and 6,123 special 
reports have been made as to the regularity of proceedings, the pardon 
of military offenders, the remission or commutation of sentences, and upon 
the numerous miscellaneous subjects and questions referred for the opinion 
of the bureau, including also letters of instruction upon military law and 
practice to judge advocates, reviewing officers, &c. By comparing these 
details with those presented in March last, it will be perceived that the 
business of this bureau, especially as an advisory branch of the War De- 
partment, has not 3*et been diminished or sensibly affected by the altered 
condition of public affairs. , 



45 

The "Digest of Opinions of the Judge Advocate General," issued by the 
bureau in January hist, having come into extensive use throughout the 
army, has proved of considerable advantage to the service in contribut- 
ing to establish a uniformity of decision and action in the administration 
of" military justice. As the present edition of the work has been very 
nearl}" exhausted, it is proposed to prepare during the coming -winter an 
enlarged edition, containing, in connexion with those already published, 
a selection of the official opinions communicated by the Judge Advocate 
General during the present year. 

The chief of the bureau expresses bis satisfaction with tbe ability and 
cfficiencj' with which the officers and clerks connected with it have per- 
formed their several duties, and, in view of the fact that the business of 
this branch of the public service will probably not be materially dimin- 
ished for the next twelve months, is of the opinion that its present or- 
ganization may well be continued by Congress. 

Freedmen's Bureau. — By an act of the last session of Congress, a new 
bureau in the War Department was created, called the Bureau of Freed- 
men, Eefugees, and Abandoned Lands. Its object was to supply the im- 
mediate necessities of those whose condition was changed by hostilities, 
and were either escaping or escaped from slavery to obtain freedom, or 
were driven from their homes by the pressure of war or the despotism of 
the rebellion. Its aid was designed for the needy of both races, w^hite 
and black, and to administer as well aid from the government and from 
charitab'e individuals and associations. No appropriation was made to 
carry this act into etfect, but the condition of the people in the insurgent 
States required prompt relief The act of Congress authorized the as- 
signment of military officers to dut}' in the bureau, and under this pro- 
vision it was organized. Major General Howard was assigned to duty as 
commissioner; other officers selected by him Avere assigned for agents 
and assistants, and an organized system of relief has gone into operation. 
The report of the commissioner, which has not 3'et been furnished to the 
department, will show the operation of the Freedmen's Bureau during a 
period of several months, and afford some means to judge what regula- 
tions are required. It is plain tha't some such organization is wanted in 
the insurgent States to relieve promptly great aiid ])ressing need arising 
from the war, and social disorganization resulting from the war. Proper 
provision for the colored population whose condition has been changed 
by direct act of the Federal government, to serve its own purposes in the 
conflict, is a solemn duty. More or less resistance to the performance of 
this duty is to be expected while any rebellious or hostile spirit remains, 
but the" obligation to perform it cannot be evaded or thrust aside with 
national honor or safety. A numerous class of white persons who, without 
fault in themselves, are suffering want occasioned by the ravages of war, 
tave also a just claim for relief. 

But while discharging these obligations to needy destitute white persons 
and the freed colored people, the utmost care must be observed to guai'd 
against establishing a national system of pauperism that might foster a 
/horde of idle officials or dishonest agents, and engender vice,, sloth, and 
improvidence among a large class of persons. To avoid this evil and in- 
sure strict supervision, it is urgently recommended, first that all app^^ 
priations of money for the Freedman's Bureau be made in specific teriiis^' 
distinct from any other purpose; second, that the number of agents aiid 
employes, and their compensation, be fixed by law; third, that the duties 



4^ 

and powers of the bureau, in respect to persons and property, be defined 
by law. 

By tbe beads of the respective bureaus of the War Department and 
their staffs the government has been served with a zeal and fidelity not 
surpassed by their bi^ethi-en in the field. To them the honors and dis- 
tinction of an admiring public have not been opened, but in their re- 
spective vocations they have toiled with a devotion, ability, and success 
for which they are entitled to national gratitude. 

Beside the signal success vouchsafed to our arms, other causes con- 
ti'ibuted to overthrow the rebellion. Among the chief of these may be 
reckoned : 

1. The steadfast adherence of the President to the measure of emanci- 
pating the slaves in the rebel States. Slavery was avowed by the leaders 
of the rebellion to be its corner-stone. By that sj'stem millions of people, 
constituting nearly the whole working population of the south, were em- 
ployed in producing supplies on the plantation, in the workshops and 
manufactories, and wherever labor Avas required, thus enabling the white 
population to fill the rebel armies. The hopes of freedom, kindled by the 
emancipation proclamation, paralj'zed the industrial power of the rebel- 
lion. Slaves seized their chances to escape, discontent and distrust were 
engendered, the hopes of the slave and the fears of the master, stimulated 
by the success of the federal arms, shook each day more and more the 
fabric built on human slavery. 

2. The resolute pui-pose of Congress to maintain the Federal Union at 
all hazards, manifested by its legislation, was an efficient cause of our suc- 
cess. Ample supplies appropriated for the arm}' and navy, revenue laws 
for suppljMng tlie treasury, careful revision and amendment of the laws 
for recruiting the army and enforcing the draft, gave practical direction 
to the patriotic purpose of the peoi^le to maintain a national existence that 
should afford protection and respect bj^ means of the Federal Union. 

3. Patriotic measures adopted by the governors of loj^al States, and the 
efficient aid they rendered the War Department in filling up the ranks of 
the army and furnishing succor and relief to the sick and wounded, largely 
contributed to the national preservation. Of these measures one of the 
most important was the aid tendered by the governors of Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan in the opening of the campaign of 
1864. 

On the 21st day of April, I8G4, Governors Brough, Morton, Tates, Stone, 
and Lewis made an off'er to the President to the following effect: 

That these States should furnish for the approaching campaign infantry 
troops, 30,000 fi'om Ohio, 20,000 from Indiana, the same number from 
Illinois, 10,000 from Iowa, and 5,000 from Wisconsin; the term of service 
to be one hundred days; the whole number to be furnished within twenty 
days; the troops to be armed, equipped, and transported as other troops 
but no bounty to be paid, nor any credit on any draft, and the pending 
draft to go on until the State quota was filled. 

,^^fter full consideration and conference with the Lieutenant General, 
this offer was accepted bj' President Lincoln. The State of Ohio organ- 
ized within four weeks, and placed in the field, 35,646 officers and men. 



47 

being 5,G46 troops more than the stipulated quota. Other States, less able 
to meet the contingency, contributed with alacrit}^ all that could be raised. 

Although experience had shown that troops raised for a short term were 
more expensive and of less value than those raised for a longer period, 
these troops did important service in the campaign. They supplied garri- 
sons and lield posts for which experienced troops would have been required, 
and these were relieved so as to join the armies in the field. In several 
instances the three-months troops, at their own entreaty, were sent to the 
front, and disjilaj^cd their gallantry in the hardest battles of the campaign. 

4. The result of the presidential election of 1864 exerted an important 
influence upon the war. Intercepted letters and dispatches between the 
rebel leaders showed that their hopes of success rested greatly upon the 
presidential election. If the Union party prevailed, the prosecution of the 
war until the national authority should be restored appeared inevitable, 
and the rebel cause desperate. Even on the battle-field the influence of 
the election was felt. The overwhelming voice of the people at the presi- 
dential election encouraged the heroic daring of our own troops, and dis- 
mayed those who were fighting in a hopeless cause. 

5. The ftiith of the people in the national success, as manifested hy their 
support of the government credit, also contributed much to the auspicious 
result. While thousands upon thousands of brave men filled the ranks of 
the arm}', millions of money were required for the treasur}^. These were 
furnished by the people, who advanced their money on government 
securities, and freely staked their fortunes for the national defence. 

Looking to the causes that have accomplished the national deliverance, 
there seems no room henceforth to doubt the stability of the Federal 
Union. These causes are permanent, and must always have an active 
existence. The majesty of national power has been exhibited in the 
courage and faith of our citizens, and the ignominy of rebellion is witnessed 
by the hopeless end of the great rebellion. 

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. 



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